Nairobi Gate Industrial Park launches the first Special Economic Zone with a gazetted customs area

Nairobi Gate Industrial Park has announced the launch of the first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a gazetted customs control area in East Africa.

This will allow businesses operating from Nairobi Gate additional efficiencies including a one-stop shop for regulatory agencies including the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, customs, and the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA).

Developed by Improvon Group, Nairobi Gate SEZ was meticulously designed to align with the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) requirements. This involved housing all relevant government agencies within the zone, including revenue, port, and customs control agencies, as well as entities like the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and others.

So far, the developers of the Nairobi Gate Industrial Park have invested US $40 million with a commitment to invest up to US $160 million by the year 2035.

Dean Shillaw, Managing Director of Impact North SEZ, owner of Nairobi Gate Industrial Park, explained that the SEZ will provide additional value for businesses, stating: “Because the Special Economic Zone is effectively an extension of Kenya’s border for imports and exports, a one-stop solution had to be provided to house all relevant government agencies. This allows us to provide unprecedented levels of ease for our tenants while allowing them to thrive within a well-planned industrial park. In addition to the warehousing and infrastructure, we have also installed multiple state-of-the-art weigh bridges, customs-controlled gatehouses and other security measures that will allow the zone to operate as a fully functional and comprisable area.”

Nairobi Gate offers a ‘built to suit’ concept, in response to the demand for flexible, grade A light-industrial properties. It stands out with its excellent access, efficient truck circulation, ample loading facilities, multiple roller shutter doors, and generous height for pallet storage capacity. The development is ideal for accommodating international warehousing, distribution, and manufacturing businesses, as well as local entities specializing in high-value items like pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, electronics, and engineering components, FMCG and cold-chain storage.

Strategically aligned with Nairobi’s 2030 spatial development plan, Nairobi Gate offers turnkey projects, ranging from mini units of 5,000 square feet to warehouses of 400,000 square feet, along with land sale options.