Tatu City appointed to represent World Free Zones Organization in Kenya

Tatu City, the 5,000-acre mixed-use Special Economic Zone (SEZ) on Nairobi’s doorstep, has been appointed by the World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) as the Kenya representative of the association’s more than 700 global members.

The Regional Office of World FZO in Kenya will be administered locally by Tatu City as a centre for thought leadership and a knowledge exchange for free zones and governmental organizations to access and training, networking and business development.

The World FZO is a not-for-profit body that provides one authoritative, collective voice representing the interests of free zones around the world. Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, World FZO was launched in 2014  by its 14 founding members and under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.

“We are delighted to welcome Tatu City as a member and as our first Regional Office in Kenya,” said Dr. Samir Hamrouni, CEO of World FZO. “As the first operational Special Economic Zone in Kenya, Tatu City represents both the foresight of the Government of Kenya in embracing economic zones as a powerful tool for growth and the critical role the private sector plays in successful government policy.”

A recent study by the United Nations and the Africa Economic Zones Organisation called SEZs “important instruments of trade, investment and industrial policy” and highlighted the contribution by SEZs “to economic integration in Africa by promoting intra-regional trade and investment.”

“Tatu City is creating a benchmark for free zones in Kenya, and we accept with pride the appointment as World FZO’s first Regional Office in the country,” said Preston Mendenhall, Chief Operating Officer of Tatu City and Executive Vice President of Rendeavour, Tatu City’s owner and developer. “We look forward to furthering World FZO’s mission to provide in-depth research, insights and guidelines for the establishment and administration of free zones.”

Currently at Tatu City, more than 60 businesses have opened or started development, 5,000 homes are completed or under construction and two schools – Crawford International and Nova Pioneer – educate more than 3,000 students daily.

About World Free Zones Organization (www.worldfzo.org)
The World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) is a global not-for-profit organization registered in Geneva, Switzerland, and headquartered in Dubai, UAE since 2014. It unites its members under one authoritative and collective voice, providing representation to the interests of free zones around the world. Its main goal is to enhance free zones’ global contribution to economic prosperity and social development by fostering best practices, sharing industry knowledge and supporting clean trade policies through standardized regulation, globally recognized certification programs and solid compliance models among its more than 700 members in over 130 countries.