Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) countries, want to create and support a collaborative trading environment between member states.
Providence Mavumbi, Director of Industry & Agriculture Division-Zambia in the COMESA Secretariat said Special Economic Zones (SEZs), were critical in trade efforts, thus COMESA was in the process of adopting the right policies, to help member countries set-up similar developments to promote trade and regional market access.
Speaking at the Tatu City, where the COMESA Secretariat, was hosted for knowledge exchange on the first operational mixed use SEZ in the region, Mavumbi expressed enthusiasm about the learning opportunity.
“We are impressed by the level of planning, design and execution of Tatu City’s mixed-use vision. Integrating residential, commercial and recreational spaces sustainably and in an aesthetically pleasing way is commendable,” he said.
Lucas Mwago, Chief Trade Development Officer at the Kenya’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, said the delegation of trade from the COMESA Secretariat and SEZ experts discussed design, taxation, regulatory framework, infrastructure requirements, planning and development.
“Our mission in Tatu City is to appreciate and learn from a team that has already established a functioning mixed-use SEZ,” said Mwago, adding that this was a great opportunity for governments to learn from the private sector, measure themselves against a successful developer such as Tatu City and see how all can expand SEZ developments not only in Kenya and but also in other COMESA nations
Tatu City Executive Vice President, Solomon Mahinda, said, “There are very important lessons we have learnt over time in Kenya, which we are glad to share with other COMESA Member States with similar visions.
He mentioned the areas of market access and rules of origin, saying they were critical areas, where they were keen to collaborate and facilitate knowledge-sharing opportunities with other African nations.
Last year, Tatu City hosted Ugandan Members of Parliament for a learning tour on establishing mixed-use Special Economic Zones.
More recently, Kenya’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry and the Council of Governors visited the city as the government looks to develop industrial parks and SEZs in each of Kenya’s 47 counties.
Tatu City Special Economic Zone is a 5,000-acre and hosts dozens of companies, including Kenya Wine Agencies Limited, Dormans, Copia, Cooper K-Brands, Grit Real Estate Income Group, Twiga Foods, CCI Global, Freight Forwarders Solutions, Friendship Group and Davis & Shirtliff.
More than 3,000 homes and apartments are also occupied, while others were under construction at Unity Homes and the Kijani Ridge neighborhood.
COMESA Secretariat in the tour had representatives from Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Seychelles, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
By Wangari Ndirangu
