The manufacturer of tiles will invest Sh2.5 billion in phase 3 of its plant pushing the total investment in the country to Sh8.1 billion
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5 – KEDA Ceramics is set to expand its operations in Kenya with the launch of the third phase of its plant in Kajiado.
The manufacturer of tiles will invest Sh2.5 billion in phase 3 of its plant pushing the total investment in the country to Sh8.1 billion and adding 500 more jobs from 2019.
Phases one and two of the project saw KEDA Ceramics invest over Sh5.5 billion in the tile factory targetting the middle and lower end of the Kenyan market.
The company’s Administrative Manager, Ryan Chen, says the investment is a boost to the government’s manufacturing pillar.
“This is the perfect time to invest in Kenya, especially with President Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda. Foreign direct investments are important in the realization of this initiative and we are playing our part in this regard,” Chen said.
Chen adds that the country’s economic market in the region and its strategic position have made it an attractive investment destination for the company. This bearing was also an important consideration that aligns with China’s President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road initiative.
“Kenya is strategically placed along the route for the Belt and Road initiative. We therefore not only want to bring our products and technologies to the country, but we also want to create jobs and transfer skills and expertise to the Kenyan people and the Kenyan market,” Chen added.
The first two phases of KEDA’s operations have seen the company create over 1,200 jobs directly and more than 1500 others indirectly. With the plans to operationalize phase three sometime next year, the company will directly create 500 more jobs.
“We are currently manufacturing mainly 300mm by 300mm and 400mm by 400mm size tiles and we hope to produce bigger size tiles such as 500mm by 500mm and 600mm by 600mm in phase three,” he added.
