EPZ companies push for bigger share of market

New firms

Policy-makers have called for the strengthening of the labour intensive firms under EPZ as way of tackling the growing unemployment.

In Kenya, the 98 firms operating in these zones have employed 30,600 workers.

This should increase beyond 40,000 after 17 new firms were licensed this year, officials say.

Under the Custom Union Management Act, EPZ enterprises are granted exemptions from all taxes and duties on imports like machinery, spare parts, tools, raw materials and intermediate goods.

The firms also enjoy 10-year tax holiday and other incentives.