• Foreign interest

    Foreign interest

    South African companies have to date invested more than US$100 million into Kenya’s Tatu City special economic zone (SEZ).

    The 2 023 ha SEZ located outside Nairobi represents one of the largest concentrations of South African foreign direct investment in Kenya and East Africa, as reported by Tatu City.

    South Africa’s investments in the SEZ include the Crawford International School, owned by Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed education group AdvTECH; Kenya Wine Agencies (KWAL), which is majority-owned by South African beverage conglomerate Distell; and Cold Solutions, an ARCH Emerging Markets Partners investment.

    Cold Solutions is on track to open its first facility in Kenya next year. The 15 000 m2 flagship facility is expected to improve food and pharmaceutical security and promote economic development in Kenya and the region. Meanwhile, construction of KWAL’s US$40 million production and distribution facility broke ground in February, with the Kenyan government as a shareholder via its Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation.

    The SEZ is home to more than 60 local, regional and multinational businesses, including Dormans, Cooper K-Brands, Chandaria Industries, Kim-Fay, Davis & Shirtliff, Copia, FFK, Twiga Foods and Stecol, among others.

    29 June 2021
    Image: Gallo/Getty Images