Local and export sales from Export Processing Zone-based factories hit Sh69 billion last year.
The Economic Survey 2017 shows the sales were 5.8 per cent up from Sh63.1 billion with local sales accruing from the 20 per cent local sales window earning the factories Sh5.6 billion last year, up from Sh4 billion.
Export markets yielded Sh63.1 billion up from Sh60.8 billion the previous year. The locally gazetted zones also increased to 65 from 52 in 2015 with enterprises operating at the facilities rising to 91 from 89, generating 2,000 new jobs.
“Most performance indicators in EPZ improved whereby gazetted zones increased from 56 in 2015 to last year’s 65. (Some) 62 zones are privately-owned while three are publicly owned,” says the report.
More jobs could be created once several gazetted EPZ facilities come up at Tatu City’s 420-acre light industry zone where five factories are currently under construction, They include Coca Cola factory, serviette-cum-tissue maker Kim and Fay, Bidco juice, water and soda factory as well as Dorman’s one-stop coffee roaster-cum-packaging facility.
In Athi River, construction of 29.6-acre supermarket by China Wu Yi is due for completion this June. It will host a variety of industries.
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