Taita Taveta plans industries to cash in on SGR opportunities

Taita Taveta Governor, John Mruttu {PHOTO: STANDARD}

Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu has said his Government will promote the establishment of industries and expansion of existing ones to maximise value for local residents from the Standard Gauge Railway line, which is currently under construction.

The Governor noted that as one of the counties on the path of the SGR, Taita Taveta had come up with the requisite policies to take advantage of the project, which is expected to be a major booster for the national and regional economies once commissioned.

“We already have in place a Strategic Investment Plan dubbed Transform Taita Taveta 2020 (TTT2020), which has identified the national flagship projects that will be of benefit to this county. The SGR is one such project. Under the project, the County Government has formulated an Industrialisation Policy that will enable the County open new industries and expand on the existing ones to ensure the County maximises on the benefits that will come with the completion of the SGR,” said Mr Mruttu in an interview.

Most of the TT2020 flagship projects will be implemented through either Public Private Partnership (PPP) or Private Initiated Investment (PIP). The County Government has already started sensitizing the public to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the SGR project.

He thanked China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) for opening a vocational training centre in Voi and noted that his Government had already deployed the existing devolved structures to market the institution.

“We see this as a big opportunity for this county as the graduates from this institution will in future find employment in similar projects in the region. Similarly, the graduates from this institution, majority of whom are likely to be sons and daughters of this county, are also likely to be absorbed by the SGR upon its completion,” he argued.

On job opportunities available on the project, Taita Taveta County relies on a network of liaison officers embedded with the project to get the relevant information. The County normally shares such information, including on internship opportunities, with youth who are then instructed to apply for the same. Many had been absorbed.

Mruttu cited the growth of small businesses and increased demand for housing along the SGR route as some of the direct economic benefits that the project had spawned in the county. The nature of the construction works, which are done continuously had also given rise to a 24-hour economy to meet the needs of the CRBC workers.

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