Mai Mahiu:The South Sudan Government has begun constructing a logistics hub at the Mai Mahiu Special Economic Zone to enhance cargo handling and transportation from the Port of Mombasa to Juba.
According to Kenya News Agency, the hub aims to serve as an alternative cargo clearance center, addressing the increasing cargo volumes for both import and export. It will also alleviate congestion at the Port of Mombasa, where cargo handling is projected to rise from 15 million metric tonnes to 40 million metric tonnes annually in the next five years.
The Kenyan government is expanding its infrastructure to support this initiative, including the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Malaba and the Rironi-Mau Summit to Malaba border road. Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development Geoffrey Ruku emphasized Kenya’s commitment to boosting regional trade through these improvements.
Kenya has allocated a free 10-acre parcel of land within the 6,000-acre zone for regional countries, including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to establish logistics hubs. Dr. Kenneth Chelule, CEO of the SEZ Authority, noted the zone’s success in attracting 24 investors and anticipated significant operations within two years, creating numerous jobs.
South Sudan is the first country to break ground in the zone, with plans for additional land in Mombasa and Malaba to further ease cargo handling. Paul Dhel Gum, South Sudan’s undersecretary for transport, highlighted the zone’s potential to boost regional trade and facilitate seamless goods transportation.
South Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya, Simon Deng, expressed optimism that the hub will ensure timely and efficient cargo movement by 2028, serving as a dry port for cargo clearance and supporting regional trade.
Dr. John Diir, Executive Director for the Northern Corridor, confirmed that studies predict significant growth in cargo transport, which will benefit from reduced congestion at the Port of Mombasa. Dr. Usta Kayitesi, Rwanda’s Minister for Trade and Foreign Affairs, praised the logistics hub’s role in enhancing trade efficiency and business operations along the Northern Corridor.
