MAPPING OF INDUSTRIES, DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL DATABASE PROJECT LAUNCHED FOR NAIROBI

The State Department for Industry has launched mapping of industries and the subsequent development of an industrial database for the industries in Nairobi County.

Industrialisation Secretary (IS), State Department for Industry (SDI), Prof Erastus Gatebe, said the activity was crucial in supporting the government to plan and formulate policies and develop industry infrastructure.

While addressing the media and other stakeholders, Prof. Gatebe said that the activity was a clear indication of the Government’s commitment in its efforts towards Kenya’s industrialization journey as envisioned in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

 “The primary objective of this exercise is to develop a comprehensive database and directory of industries, which is essential for policy formulation and investment facilitation,” Gatebe added.

Prof. Gatebe emphasized the need to develop a comprehensive database and directory to document the state of manufacturing in Kenya.

Director for Industries and the Chair person of the Mapping Project, Ms Ann Kiarie, said “mapping and geo-location are essential tools in the modern industrial landscape as they enable accurate identification and location of industries, which is crucial for planning, development, and management”.

This project is crucial because the outcome will inform policy actions and strategies that will assist the manufacturing sector in Kenya to upscale and realize its full potential, she explained.

“Manufacturing, albeit contributing 8% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has the potential to transform the fortunes of our country through job creation and production of goods and services,” she remarked, noting that a manufacturing nation prospers.

Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) will collaborate by offering their expertise during the project