Mohammed Akoojee, CEO and Managing Director of DP World Africa, and Suleiman Shahbal. [Courtesy]
Businessman Suleiman Shahbal has secured a landmark Special Economic Zone (SEZ) investment agreement with global logistics giant DP World in a project expected to transform Mombasa into a major regional industrial and logistics hub.
The investment, valued at more than $100 million (Sh12 billion), is projected to create 7,972 direct jobs, with 67 companies already confirming participation before construction begins, signalling strong investor confidence.
The agreement between the Gulf Group of Companies and DP World is the culmination of a vision Shahbal has pursued for more than two decades, championing the establishment of a Special Economic Zone as a catalyst for industrial growth and economic transformation in Mombasa.
The SEZ will be developed on a 535-acre parcel of land in Jomvu Sub-County, formerly used as a Kenya Meat Commission cattle staging ground.
The land, currently leased from the County Government of Mombasa, will be converted into a modern industrial and logistics hub.
The project is expected to attract manufacturers, exporters, logistics firms, technology companies and other industrial investors, boosting production, increasing exports and strengthening Mombasa's position as a leading investment destination in East Africa.