NAIVASHA, Kenya, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) on Monday launched a one-month campaign to introduce local investors on opportunities that will be unleashed by Nairobi-Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the proposed dry port.
Said Ali, chairman of Nakuru County chapter of KNCCI, said that countrywide sensitization fora will be carried out to enable entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens understand the huge potential of the extended railway line that was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Oct.16.
Ali said both the 120 kilometers modern railway and the dry port will stimulate economic activities in the Kenyan hinterland.
"The SGR stations are now fully operational and works to construct a modern dry port that have already begun. Our duty going forward is to bring our members on board and shed light on opportunities they can seize to grow their businesses," said Ali.
He said that apart from educating members on phase 2 A of SGR, the trade lobby will partner with local authorities to help youth acquire the skill that can secure them jobs at the proposed special economic zones.
"No one will be left out including our youth and we have made elaborate plans to ensure they are included in this new transformation that we are witnessing after the launch of phase 2 A of SGR," said Ali.
He urged the business community in Mombasa opposed to ferrying goods using the SGR freight service to halt their demonstrations as the benefits will be felt along the value chain.
"Not all goods will be ferried by the train as there are connecting towns that will have goods delivered with trucks so the protests should cease," said Ali.
He said that local entrepreneurs will benefit from the reduced cost of ferrying goods from the port of Mombasa to rural towns using the Nairobi-Naivasha line that is part of the proposed Mombasa-Nairobi-Malaba SGR project.
