NAIVASHA

Turkish manufacturing conglomerate which is putting up an investment project at the Naivasha Special Economic Zone commissioned by the President on Tuesday, is set to create about 2,900 jobs locally.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday the firm’s Chairman Mehment Coskun said the Sh91 billion investment will manufacture six products including ceramic and granite tiles, sanitary towels, toilet paper, and towel napkins as well as iron and aluminum products.

Coskun however notes that 70 per cent of their production will be for the export market in Europe and USA.

“We are looking to employ 2,900 people directly and besides creating combined employment opportunities for over 30,000 locals indirectly,” he said.

He said the plants are expected to be up and running in two and half years, upon completion of logistics including importing of necessary equipment and machinery.

“We are going to push out of Naivasha for export a minimum of 500 containers of different products per day through the port of Mombasa,” he said.

He also announced that there will also be a technical institution around the area, upon which accomplished students will work in the factories.

“At the moment the country’s export volume is USD7billion but within ten to fifteen years they will reach USD20billion without any doubt,” he said.

Vice president Turkish Industry Holding Abdulhakim Alici noted that out of the six factories, four will have new innovation and technology that has not yet been introduced in Africa.

Alici hailed Kenya as a conducive environment for investing, adding that there is an adequate and qualified human resource to actualize their agenda.

“Kenya is the most attractive investment destination-politically, economically, and geographically- for large-scale investments. We became convinced that Kenya offers us the greatest potential,” he said.

On his part, Mwaniki Munuhe who is the firm’s Vice President for African operations said that the investment will be a game changer for the country’s economy.

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Munuhe noted that the project will also create job opportunities for thousands of locals. “The farmers around there will have a lot of markets where they can supply foodstuff,” he said. Munuhe noted that the investment by the Turkish community will be a precursor for other investment opportunities in Naivasha.

The six factories in the Economic zone owned by the Turkish Industry Holdings are part of the government’s measures meant to usher in a new era of enhanced contribution to the country’s industrialization agenda.

SOURCE: Capital business