CORPORATE WRAP
Li & Fung, a leading consumer products supply chain management firm, has expressed interest in setting up shop in Kenya to meet demand for premium textile products and related goods. The Hong Kong-based industrial firm, which has just concluded a fact-finding mission to Kenya hosted by the Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development, is exploring opportunities in the local textile sector.
Li & Fung is likely to be one of the first operators at the proposed Textile City to be located at the Export Processing Zone complex in Athi River. The firm is recognised as the world’s leader in consumer goods design, development, sourcing and distribution. It specialises in supply chain management of high-volume, time-sensitive goods for leading retailers and brands worldwide via an extensive global network.
By entering the Kenyan industrial space, Li & Fung will be extending its reach beyond its current operations in Egypt, Mauritius, Madagascar, Morocco and South Africa. “With the $300bn AGOA market largely untapped, there is a great opportunity to create jobs in apparel manufacturing in the short term as a quick win to address the unemployment challenges currently faced in Kenya,” said Industrialisation and Enterprise Development, Cabinet Secretary, Adan Mohamed.
HP opens ResearchLab at Strathmore
HP East Africa announced the opening of an education lab at Strathmore University, which is expected to help improve access to healthcare. The lab, developed with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Strathmore University and Kenya’s Ministry of Health, will provide faculty and students with technology that can help them design and deploy information systems to support public health delivery. The HP infrastructure includes software, server racks and all-in-one thin clients that will be used by Strathmore University students to develop web-based solutions that are deployed in hundreds of public health facilities in Kenya.
The solutions will be hosted at MOH headquarters in a data centre location that was built and supported by HP. This programme exemplifies HP Living Progress and vision of creating a better future by bringing people and technology together to solve society’s toughest challenges.
6,000 risk losing jobs at sugar
More than 6,000 people risk losing jobs should Muhoroni Sugar Company’s operations grind to a halt over failure to sell sugar. An additional 20,000 cane farmers also stare at uncertain future over the developments. The cash-strapped company is in dire need of Sh500 million bailout packages to pay debts owed to farmers, transporters and suppliers of spare parts.
“We will have no option since we are unable to sell sugar. Our stores are full. We are in a state of desperation,’’ said the company’s General Manger Anderson Oloo.
Currently, the miller has 30,000 tonnes of sugar worth Sh325 million while it owes farmers Sh270 million since February. The company also owes transporters Sh28 million and Sh370 million to suppliers of spare parts.
This means that should the machines break down, the factory may stall since it cannot secure the spare parts. With the stores full, the company has been forced to seek alternative storage facilities.
