100,000 jobs to be created in free trade zone

PHOTO | FILE Mombasa governor Ali Hassan Joho addresses journalists in the past. About 100,000 jobs will be created in Mombasa County when free port operations begin after completion of the Dongo Kundu Bypass in South Coast.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• When fully-developed, the free trade zone is expected to have 6,200 sites and will accommodate more than 10,000 business units and facilities for warehousing, light industry and processing, according to the port master plan.

By BOZO JENJE
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About 100,000 jobs will be created in Mombasa County when free port operations begin after completion of the Dongo Kundu Bypass in South Coast.

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho told investors that the county government would create a conducive environment for investment to prosper.

He said 100,000 employment opportunities will be created in the Dongo Kundu free trade zone, which is among major projects identified under the Vision 2030 blueprint.

PORT MASTER PLAN

When fully-developed, the free trade zone is expected to have 6,200 sites and will accommodate more than 10,000 business units and facilities for warehousing, light industry and processing, according to the port master plan.

The Dongo Kundu Bypass, which will cost Sh4 billion, will connect the Mombasa mainland and the South Coast to ease pressure on the Likoni Channel. It will also provide infrastructure to develop the Mombasa trade zone.

Speaking at Wildwaters in Mombasa during the first Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Awards 2013, Mr Joho asked investors to initiate programmes geared towards youth poverty alleviation.

Mr Joho defended the county’s proposed Sh30 billion budget that was slashed, saying though ambitious it was crucial for development of infrastructure.



“To transform the county both the private sector and the county should play their roles,” he said.