The Leather Industrial Park in Machakos, Kenya, has a lot of potential to help the country’s economy grow. Here are some ways it can make a difference:
The park is expected to create many jobs in the leather industry. It could grow from about 17,000 jobs to around 100,000. More jobs mean more income for families and less unemployment in the area.
The park will turn raw hides and skins into finished leather products. This change means Kenya will stop just selling raw materials and start making valuable leather goods. This could increase the leather sector’s contribution to the economy from Ksh 15 billion to Ksh 175 billion each year.
The park will have good facilities, like an effluent treatment plant and spaces for tanneries. This setup is meant to attract both local and foreign investors. More investment brings money, new technologies, and skill development.
The park plans to produce up to 10 million pairs of shoes and other leather accessories every year. This will help Kenya sell more leather products abroad, bringing in foreign money, which is important for the country’s economic stability.
The industrial park will provide an environment where small and medium-sized businesses can grow. They will have shared facilities, lower costs, and better chances to reach customers, which can encourage new ideas and entrepreneurship in the leather industry.
The modern effluent treatment plant will help reduce pollution, which is essential for keeping the environment safe. This focus on sustainability can prevent the problems that have slowed down the leather industry in the past.
As the leather industry grows, there will be a need for more trained workers like technicians and artisans. The park’s development includes places like the Training and Production Centre for the Shoe Industry, which helps people learn important skills for jobs in this field.
However, for the park to truly help Kenya’s economy, certain things need to happen. These include finishing the necessary buildings on time, having good policies, making sure there is access to markets, and maintaining demand for leather products around the world.