Kenyan chosen to head $760 million Turkish Industrial Complex

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - A Kenyan businessman was named Wednesday to the vice president post of the Africa operations of six Turkish companies set to open in Kenya.

“The Board of Turkish Ceramic, Granite and Tiles SEZ (Special Economic Zone) has the pleasure to announce that we have reached the decision to appoint a Kenyan – Mr Mwaniki Munuhe – to the position of Vice President of the Turkish Ceramic, Granite and Tiles SEZ Project,” Turkish Industry Holdings Vice President Abdulhakim Alici said at a news conference in the national capital of Nairobi.

“Indeed, Mr Munuhe, who is 36 years old, will be in charge of Africa. He is a testament that Kenya has some of the finest entrepreneurial skills in the world. Turkish Ceramic, Granite and Tiles SEZ is the largest investment in the manufacturing of construction products in Africa,” he said.

Alici said as part of the company’s local content development, it will have a vocational-technical school that will train qualified personnel who will be employed in Turkish-owned industrial facilities in Kenya.

“In this vocational-technical school, we will have 250 students studying for two days a week and do internships at our factories for three days a week,” he said.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta laid the foundation stone Tuesday for the construction of the Turkish Industrial Holding Complex that will be spread over 400 acres.

The $760 million project will include six factories for construction, forestry, furniture, and cleaning products.

Kenyatta said the complex is estimated to inject $530 million annually into the Kenyan economy, create 2,860 jobs and indirectly affect more than 30,000 residents.

The companies will export 70% of their production and earn $350 million in annual foreign currency, boosting Kenya’s economy, according to Alici.