German-based cleaning equipment manufacturer Karcher has announced an approximate Ksh 428 million investment in the Kenyan market. The move was made to operationalize the business into a full subsidiary, which includes a regional distribution center at Freight Forwarders Solutions (FFS) in Tatu City.
Christian May, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Sales Officer at Karcher, emphasized the importance of this investment: “Our goal is to transform the cleaning landscape in Kenya by bringing advanced products and services to our customers. By establishing Kenya as our regional hub, we are reducing lead times and enhancing responsiveness, ensuring prompt service and satisfaction for our clients.”
Stephen Jennings, Founder & CEO of Rendeavour, the owner and developer of Tatu City, added, “Karcher joins the ranks of many leading global brands at Tatu City SEZ. As Kenya’s first mixed-used SEZ, Tatu City has already attracted Kes 328 billion in investment from more than 78 businesses, from healthcare and food and beverage production to call centers, software engineering, and now cleaning solutions. These investments are creating many thousands of much-needed jobs for Kenyans.”
The company that provides warehouse operations for Karcher in Kenya, FFS, has an international-standard logistics and distribution hub in Tatu Industrial Park. FFS provides inbound cargo, freight, and transport services across East and Central Africa. It has a 14,000 m2 warehouse complex, equivalent to the size of some of Nairobi’s larger shopping malls, at Africa Logistics Properties (ALP), in Tatu City.
FFS CEO Ben Clay said, “As we launch warehouse operations for Karcher in the Kenyan market, we are committed to empowering businesses with seamless logistics solutions, leveraging technology, and fostering excellence in service delivery and economic growth.”
“Karcher’s investment in Kenya highlights the strong economic ties between Germany and Kenya. As a global leader in cleaning technology, Karcher exemplifies German engineering excellence and innovation. We look forward to further collaboration and mutual growth between our two nations,” said Sebastian Groth, Ambassador of the Republic of Germany to Kenya.
Karcher has established a presence in seven Carrefour outlets and partnered with various distributors to cater to different customer segments. Its flagship store, located in Upper Hill, Nairobi, serves as a brand store and service center operated by Equipment and Logistics Limited, which was recently presented with a twenty-year partnership award.
More than 78 local, regional, and global businesses are operational or under development in Tatu City’s business-friendly location, including CCI Global, Heineken, Dormans, Copia, Cooper K-Brands, Grit Real Estate Income Group, Twiga Foods, Freight Forwarders Solutions, ADvTECH, Friendship Group, and Davis & Shirtliff.
Business benefits at Tatu City SEZ include VAT zero-rating, import and stamp duty exemptions, and 10% corporate tax for the first 10 years and 15% for 10 years thereafter.
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