DP World and GulfCap Advance Mombasa Industrial Park to Reshape East African Logistics

Kenya is positioning Mombasa as a strategic manufacturing, logistics and export hub for East and Central Africa through the development of the 222-hectare Mombasa Industrial Park. This Special Economic Zone is being jointly developed by DP World and GulfCap Africa, with its shareholder agreement signed in the presence of President William Samoei Ruto. Located less than 20 kilometres from the Port of Mombasa, the project aims to bring manufacturing, warehousing, distribution and logistics closer to one of East Africa's most important maritime gateways. The initiative forms part of Kenya's broader strategy to attract foreign direct investment, lower the cost of doing business, expand domestic manufacturing and strengthen links with regional and international markets.

The development will begin with a 40-hectare first phase, creating an integrated platform for manufacturers, logistics operators and other businesses seeking access to Kenya and the wider East African market. More than 60 local and international companies have already expressed interest in the park, and the fully developed site is expected to support more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. The park is designed to combine manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, customs-related services and cold-chain infrastructure. This layout allows businesses to reduce transportation and handling costs while improving the speed and reliability of moving goods from factories to domestic, regional and international destinations.

The Port of Mombasa, which handles more than 30 million tonnes of cargo annually, provides a critical competitive advantage for the industrial zone. Manufacturers will be able to move imported raw materials, machinery and intermediate goods into industrial facilities efficiently, while finished products exit through established maritime routes. The location also connects the park to transport corridors serving Nairobi, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other regional markets. This connectivity helps Mombasa evolve from primarily a trade gateway into a broader manufacturing and distribution centre capable of serving multiple countries across East and Central Africa.

Manufacturers operating within the Special Economic Zone may benefit from access to major frameworks including the African Continental Free Trade Area, the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union, and Kenya's Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates. These agreements provide potential access to diverse global markets, allowing companies to use Kenya as a production base. The project also aligns with DP World's expanding presence across East Africa, complementing digital trade systems such as the Port Community System launched in Mombasa in 2025 to improve coordination of cargo and port processes.

Why This Matters

The integration of industrial parks with major maritime infrastructure addresses a longstanding structural challenge across African economies by supporting the transition from raw material exports to higher-value production. By combining manufacturing zones with digital trade systems and multimodal transport corridors, projects of this scale create end-to-end trade ecosystems. This operational proximity reduces friction in supply chains, allowing enterprises to process, store and distribute goods efficiently within a single connected environment.

Broader economic benefits depend heavily on how effectively local enterprises integrate into these new industrial networks. When multinational manufacturers and logistics operators establish operations within designated economic zones, local small and medium enterprises have clear pathways to become suppliers and service providers. This dynamic fosters deeper industrial ecosystems that encompass construction, maintenance, professional services and transport operations, thereby strengthening domestic participation in international value chains.

Opportunities

• Contractors and Developers: Opportunities to participate in phased infrastructure delivery, including the construction of industrial real estate, warehousing and specialized cold-chain facilities.
• Logistics Operators: Commercial openings to manage integrated supply chains, warehousing and distribution networks connecting the industrial park to regional transport corridors.
• Financiers and Investors: Prospects for deploying capital into specialized economic zones, supported by growing trade frameworks and regional integration initiatives.
• Suppliers and Service Providers: Commercial openings for local and regional enterprises to supply raw materials, maintenance services and professional support to anchor tenants.

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