By Reuben Olita
President Dr William Samoei Ruto is set to launch the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and Industrial Park in Matayos Busia County.
Busia Governor, H.E Dr Paul Otuoma during the burial of Wakili Gilbert Onyango Khayoni in Sigalame, Samia Sub County.
Busia Governor, H.E Dr. Paul Nyongesa Otuoma disclosed this when he met members of the Pandemic Group after the burial of Wakili Gilbert Onyango Khayoni at Muhoho village in Samia Sub County.
The Governor said the National Government will inject Ksh1b for the construction of the EPZ on the 843 acre farm at Nasewa with the County Government of Busia allocating Ksh500m for the construction of an Industrial Park on the same farm for edible oil.
“My Government will support farmers to grow simsim, sunflower and groundnuts with a bid to empowering them economically and rid the county of poverty,” he said.
He added: “We cannot be the Gateway to East and Central Africa with other counties hosting EPZ and Industrial Parks. We need to have these two facilities to in the county to reap from economies of scale.”
Dr Otuoma said his government will allocate a further Ksh.300 million to recruit 2,000 farmers in 35 wards across the county for tilling land and avail BT cotton seeds to become feeder to Mulwanda cotton ginnery in terms of raw material.
In a bid to turn the fortunes of the county, the Governor said his government will intensify rice production in Bunyala from the current 3,000 to over 11, 000 acres, noting that value addition will also be given first priority to achieve food security in the county.
My Government will lobby the national government to expand the Kisumu-Busia road to efficiently ensure smooth traffic flow and transportation of goods and services to the great lakes region.
