Kenya builds first special economic zone with China

Photo shows the ground breaking ceremony of the Pearl River SEZ in Eldoret, Kenya. [Xinhua]

In cooperation with China, Kenya has started to build its first special economic zone in the city of Eldoret, which will be named the Pearl River SEZ.

The Kenyan government passed its first bill on the special economic zone in September 2015 to boost the country's industrialization, which remains at a low level until now, and create more jobs to solve the unemployment issues at home.

William Ruto, vice-president of Kenya, said at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Pearl River SEZ in Eldoret, that China's success in using SEZs to boost industrialization is obvious to all. Kenya can learn from China to expedite its industrialization by using the same model.

Guangdong New South Group is cooperating with Kenya DL Group to build the Pearl River SEZ. The project will cost around US$2 billion and the first stage of the project is expected to be finished in two years.

Zhu Layi, president of the Guangdong New South Group, said that naming the SEZ after the most famous river in Guangdong, indicates the fruitfulness of China-Kenya cooperation.