Arid areas to be transformed into export processing zones

Kenya is accelerating development plans to end the marginalisation of its arid and semi arid regions, mainly in the northern part of the country, that have high poverty levels because of lack of infrastructure to facilitate growth of enterprises.The Ministry of State for Development of Northern Kenya announced its intentions on Tuesday in Nairobi to set up export processing zones in at least three counties in the region, in addition to helping the respective counties develop business models to earn more revenue. In various announcements carried in the national press on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Northern Kenya, Lawrence Lenayapa, said the government is seeking consultants to help meet the objectives of making the region economically viable.Lenayapa said the plans are part of the two-year medium-term development program developed by the ministry last year with the assistance of Danish international development agency DANIDA.“The program is meant to contribute to reduced poverty through demand-driven investments in the county governments,” said Lenayapa in a press announcement.The projects planned include development of Export Processing Zones (EPZs) in Isiolo, Garissa and Lamu counties. Livestock farming and processing of livestock products are expected to form the key base for establishing the EPZs in the region.Livestock is the dominant economic activity in arid and semi arid areas and demand for livestock products from Kenya is still high, especially in the Middle East. But delay in creating disease free zones in the region because of insecurity has slowed livestock exports. Lack of international standard in livestock slaughter and processing facilities has also slowed the exports.

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Arid areas to be transformed into export processing zones