Direct employment within the Economic Processing Zones (EPZs) will significantly increase this year, acting Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) CEO Hussein Adan Mohamed has assured.
Mohammed said the number will increase following the creation of five new EPZs this year in Busia, Uasin Gishu, Kirinyaga, Kwale, and Kilifi counties.
He noted that direct employment within the EPZs increased by 25.3 per cent last year to 82,764 persons compared to 66,053 persons in 2021.
Mohamed added that the performance of EPZ firms under the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) programme, hitting a four-year high in 2022, is a clear indication that the customs areas are playing a vital role in the growth of the country’s economy.
He noted that the value of exports under AGOA expanded from Sh48.8 billion in 2021 to Sh54.1 billion in 2022.