New Kifaru Exim Industrial Park to Drive Jobs, Exports and SME Competitiveness
Kenya marked the launch of Kifaru Exim today, a state-of-the-art facility developed by local investors to provide Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with world-class infrastructure and fiscal incentives to scale into export markets.
The facility, located within Tatu City Special Economic Zone (SEZ), sits on 1.26 hectares of land and consists of Grade A warehouses and office spaces designed to support SMEs with integrated infrastructure, streamlined logistics and simplified administrative processes.
Speaking at the launch, Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, hailed the initiative as a milestone for Kenya’s industrialization agenda.
“Today marks a turning point as we integrate SMEs into SEZs, offering them not only the infrastructure but also the fiscal and administrative support to thrive,” he said. “Our objective is to promote local production for both domestic and export markets, thereby creating jobs, increasing exports and strengthening our forex reserves.”
Also present was Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) Chief Executive Officer, Tobias Olando, who lauded the facility as a game-changer for the sector.
“Kifaru Exim is a world-class facility that manufacturers can plug into, opening access to markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) worth USD 55 million and the European Union valued at USD 300 million,” said Olando. “KAM will continue supporting investors to build industries that create jobs and contribute to national revenue.”
Other dignitaries present included Kalpesh Shah, Director of Kifaru Exim, who in his keynote address emphasized the company’s commitment to creating maximum employment opportunities and promoting local industries by tapping into export markets.
“Our vision at Kifaru Exim is to provide world-class facilities that not only support SMEs but also drive job creation and give local industries a gateway to regional and global markets,” said Mr. Shah.
He was joined by Deepak Sachania, General Manager, Kifaru Exim, Victor Mageto, Ag. Manager for Business Development, and Lindah Onyango of the SME Support Centre, who was also the moderator of the event. Collectively, they underscored their commitment to fostering SME participation and strengthening Kenya’s industrialization drive.
The project, driven by private Kenyan investors, underscores the role of the private sector in advancing the manufacturing agenda and aligns with the aspirations of Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) to position manufacturing as a key growth driver.
With over 40 licensed enterprises already operating in Tatu City and investments exceeding USD 3 billion, the launch of Kifaru Exim Industrial Park reinforces Kenya’s commitment to building a competitive industrial hub for the region.