Kwale: Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani says she is actively seeking foreign and local investments to drive economic growth and transformation in the coastal county. Governor Achani has declared that the coastal county was safe, free, and conducive for businesses to thrive. Achani stated that investors and entrepreneurs should take advantage of the good and conducive investment environment in Kwale to achieve their goals. She said her administration is focusing on creating an enabling environment for businesses, trade, and investments to flourish.
According to Kenya News Agency, the coastal county boss promised transparency, accountability, and quick returns for investments, insisting that her administration is serious about building investors’ confidence and accelerating economic growth. She has assured investors that the devolved government will continue to unlock opportunities for sustainable investment and growth. She said the national and county government has set up roads, highways, Shimoni port, and Diani airport infrastructure to ensure ease of doing business, attract investors, and retain them.
Achani was speaking when she hosted a business delegation from SIBCO Group led by Business Manager Mohamed Mahmoud to explore potential partnerships aimed at spurring industrial and economic growth across the county. SIBCO Group is a group of companies with active participation in Islamic economy and investment activities. It was formed to become a joint arranger for a consortium of renowned institutions and high-net-worth investors for participation in Islamic investment activities. The meeting centered on strategic areas of collaboration between the County Government of Kwale and SIBCO, a multinational enterprise group with interests in energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and industrial development. SIBCO expressed interest in exploring investments across several key sectors, including solar energy, vehicle assembly, textile manufacturing, copper processing, electrical production, and the hotel industry.
Speaking during the meeting, Governor Achani said the county is positioning itself as a leading destination for industrial investment in the coastal region, emphasizing that such partnerships align with her administration’s vision of inclusive economic transformation. ‘Our goal in Kwale is to transform our abundant resources, vibrant youthful population, and strategic location into engines of industrial growth. We welcome investors like SIBCO who share our ambition to create jobs, diversify our economy and uplift local communities,’ she said. Governor Achani reaffirmed her government’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for investors through infrastructure support, land facilitation, and streamlined approval processes.
‘Kwale is open for business and we have streamlined our regulatory processes because we are determined to make it easy for investors to establish industries that will transform livelihoods and empower our communities,’ said Achani, adding that Kwale has rich potential for the business community. Governor Achani noted that these investments would not only create thousands of jobs but also strengthen the local economy by stimulating supply chains, skills development, and entrepreneurship among Kwale residents. ‘Through industrial partnerships, we aim to open new doors for our youth, from technical training to employment in high-value industries. This is how we build a sustainable future for our people,’ she added. Achani reiterated her administration’s commitment to continuously create an enabling environment for both local and foreign businesses to thrive in the coastal county, which she said would, in the end, create employment opportunities for the teeming youths.
According to Mohamed Mohamud, SIBCO is keen to work with the coastal county government to identify viable sites for development, establish training and employment programs for locals, and ensure that all projects adhere to environmental and social standards. Mohamud said SIBCO, with investments spanning real estate, agriculture, power, green energy, and oil and gas across Malaysia, China, Bahrain, and Kuwait, noted that the Group now plans to expand into Kenya. ‘In partnership with local stakeholders, SIBCO aims to establish a multi-sector Special Economic Zone in Mombasa County,’ he said. He said the proposed partnership would accelerate Kwale’s economic diversification beyond tourism and mining, tapping into renewable energy, manufacturing, and technology-driven sectors. ‘Our partnership with Kwale County would deliver tangible prosperity for the people and local businesses,’ he said.
The SIBCO’s Business Development Manager said the partnership could lead to the establishment of a solar assembly plant, vehicle and electrical component factories, textile processing units, and new hospitality developments, all of which would position Kwale as an emerging industrial hub at the Coast. The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to form a joint technical committee to identify immediate investment priorities and develop a roadmap for implementation. Also present was Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo and County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade and Tourism Michael Mutua.