On 18 July 2018, the SET programme, in partnership Kenya’s Executive Office of the Presidency, convenes government representatives, manufacturing firms, funders and industry leads in special economic zones (SEZs) and export-processing zones to discuss the importance of SEZ building for the ‘Big Four’ agenda and the role of micro-, small-and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) within this.
With manufacturing forming a core part of the industrialisation ‘pillar’ of the Big Four agenda, SEZs can be an important tool for addressing constraints to growth in the sector, such as infrastructure and energy supply. MSMEs are crucial agents of growth in manufacturing, and overall, represent 90% of Kenyan employment. However, they face considerable challenges in expanding and integrating into value chains.
This event brought together senior policymakers, MSMEs and industry experts to examine these challenges and build trust and relationships between firms and government as the policy implementation process for the Big Four agenda develops.
Photo credit: USAID/Riccardo Gangale.