County Governors have committed to streamlining approvals and providing incentives for industrial investment in their respective 47 counties.
Speaking on Monday, during the opening ceremony of the Kenya Industrialization Conference 2023, held at University of Nairobi, Anne Waiguru called on investors to take advantage of the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs), being set up in counties to tap into available agro-processing opportunities.
” County Governments will support access to finance by farmers and Medium and Micro Small Enterprises (MSMEs), and provision of necessary infrastructure including roads, electricity, water and sewerage system,” she added.
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The governor said besides the allocation of land for construction of the shades and financing the constructions of CAIPs, County Governments will also play a role in facilitating market linkages by connecting the park’s businesses with suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders in the region.
“These parks will boost overall national agro-processing, increase farmer Income, create jobs, reduce post-harvest loss, consolidate Kenya produce for intercounty trade and export market,” the Chair of Council of Governors added.
She went on to say that counties are also developing guidelines and legislations to facilitate regional, inter and intra-county trade. “As a Council, we note and appreciate the role of the private sector and partners in transforming the counties’ development and growth through investments. Your contribution is immense and is evident across counties,” she said.
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Additionally, the County Governments will facilitate the development of supply chains, offering training and capacity-building programs to local businesses, and assisting with market research to identify growth opportunities.
“The County Governments cannot accomplish these goals in isolation. I invite you to join us in creating thriving industrial parks that will drive economic growth, generate substantial returns, and make a lasting impact on our economies. We can rekindle the spark in our cotton fields, breathe new life into our leather and apparel factories, and unlock the untapped potential of our pyrethrum, coffee, banana, avocado and tea farms,” the COG chair said.
