Workshop on Scaling Sustainable Industrial Clusters Emphasizes P4G’s Value in Delivering on Kenya’s Green Ambitions

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In collaboration with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), P4G hosted a virtual workshop titled Achieving Kenya's Green Ambitions: Scaling Sustainable Industrial Clusters on April 28, 2021. Featuring P4G partnership SSEZ/Sustainable Industrial Clusters, the workshop addressed learnings around Sustainable Industrial Clusters (SICs) in Kenya and how to replicate and scale successful models across Kenya, Africa, and the globe.  

Dr. Julia Muia, Principal Secretary of the National Treasury and P4G National Platform Co-Chair, kicked off the session by noting the value of P4G’s acceleration in Kenya. He remarked, “As a government ministry, we are very proud of this partnership with P4G because when we look at Kenya’s goals and P4G’s delivery methodology, they are very well aligned to our commitment to sustainable growth.” Dr. Muia outlined the ways in which P4G’s work on Sustainable Industrial Clusters offers an opportunity for Kenya to transform into a green manufacturing hub at speed and scale in line with Kenya Vision 2030. 

Nik Nesbitt, Chairman of KEPSA and P4G National Platform Private Sector Co-Chair reiterated the role of SICs in delivering on Kenya’s sustainable development, noting that going green will shine a positive light on Kenya, thus attracting more investment. He remarked, “working through P4G, we have the opportunity to drive change and innovation through this partnership and others.” 

The first session, moderated by Ambassador Dennis Awori, Chairman of Toyota Kenya and P4G Board Member, focused on the high-level vision for a corridor of SICs across Kenya and the actionable opportunity for investors and businesses in Oserian Two Lakes Industrial Park. Gail Klintworth, Chair of Savo Project Developers and Robert Ward, Managing Director of Oserian Two Lakes introduced the concept of sustainable industrial clusters as a one-stop sustainable supply solution throughout Kenya and potentially across East Africa.  

Klintworth also shared how Savo has taken learnings from its first zone, LADOL in Nigeria, and the current Oserian zone in Kenya to produce a knowledge product, titled “How to Get Stuff Done.” The product includes information on the roles governments, investors, and businesses play in developing and expanding Sustainable Industrial Clusters.  

P4G’s Director of Investments, Sarbinder Singh, moderated the panel discussion that included speakers such as Rana Ghoneim, Chief of Energy Systems and Infrastructure Division at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and Mahamadou Tounkara, Director of Governance, Strategy, Partnerships and Communications at the Global Green Growth Institute. The discussion focused on how to scale Sustainable Industrial Clusters in Kenya and Africa. Ghoneim emphasized the need to de-risk these clusters by working with governments to improve policy frameworks to attract investment and create a conducive environment for investors. Tounkara echoed these comments, adding that innovation must be at the heart of this change.  

The workshop solidified the importance of creating pipelines of bankable Sustainable Industrial Clusters, wherein P4G fills an essential gap. Speakers recognized that P4G serves as an invaluable platform through its strong relationship with the Kenya National Platform and ability to connect with investors from development finance institutions and the private sector. As the partnership moves forward, the “How to Get Stuff Done” knowledge product and acceleration from P4G’s dynamic global ecosystem can galvanize a global effort to establish corridors of sustainable industrial clusters.