This is a list of licenses issued by the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA). EPZA is a State Corporation under the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development. It was established in 1990 by the EPZ Act CAP 517, Laws of Kenya.
The Authority’s mission is to effectively and efficiently attract and retain export-oriented investments for the achievement of national objectives.
Here is a list of licenses/permits issued by the Export Processing Zones Authority.
1. EPZ Enterprise License
It is issued to companies directly involved in export-oriented business activities. The license is issued at a cost of US $ 1,000 annually.
Requirements/Eligibility
- The company must be involved in manufacturing or processing, commercial activities and export oriented services including brokerage, information, consultancy and repair services.
- The company must already have an export market with minimum 80% of its annual output to be exported. Sales of up to 20% of the annual company’s output may be sold within the East African Community after approval by the Minister of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development.
- The company can only operate within a designated Export Processing Zone.
Statutory Requirements
- The company must be incorporated as an EPZ company
- The company must provide evidence of their location of operation
- The company must undergo an Environment Impact Assessment and acquire a National Environmental Management Authority certificate
Application Procedure
- The application must be fully completed and submitted to the Authority with a non-refundable application fee of US $250
- The Authority appraises the completed application within 30 days and then assists in obtaining all the statutory requirements
2. EPZ Developer/Operator License
It is issued to those engaged in developing infrastructure and buildings on EPZ gazetted land to be occupied by themselves or other EPZ enterprises. The license costs US $ 5,000 annually. The EPZ gazetted land can either be public (owned by the EPZ Authority) or private (owned by an individual/company.
For the land to be gazetted as an EPZ the following conditions must be met;
- The land must be fully owned by the applicant or lease for a minimum of 10 years and the land title should have no encumbrances
- The land title, land reference number map of the site and surroundings, area of the site in acres and layout of on-site infrastructure facilities including roads and buildings must be submitted to the authority.
- Designs for the proposed infrastructure and any other standards that the Authority may determine
Statutory requirements
- The company must be incorporated as an EPZ
- The lease or land title registered under the EPZ company and certified copies forwarded to the Authority’s legal department
- The company must undergo an Environment Impact Assessment and acquire a National Environmental Management Authority certificate
Application for the license
- The license application form must be fully completed and submitted to the Authority, with a non refundable application fee of US $ 250
- EPZA appraises the completed application within 30 days and then assists in obtaining all the statutory requirements
3. Business Service Permit
This is a special license issued to companies which provide service activities to EPZ companies and are located within EPZ zones.
Activities eligible for the Business Service Permit
- Commercial Banking
- Clearing and forwarding
- Catering and restaurant
- Staff recruitment and payroll services
- Postal and telecommunication bureau
- Office service bureau
- Transportation services (freight and passenger)
- Installation, repair and maintenance
- Fitness club, sports club and gymnasium
- Medical and related services
- Laboratory, testing and quality certification services
- Security services
- Business consultancy services
- Insurance services
- Foreign Trade Mission
- International Disaster Relief Agencies
- International Non-Governmental Organisations
Export Processing Zones Authority Contacts
Head office: Administration Building, Viwanda Road, off Nairobi-Namanga Highway, Athi River
Contact: 0709 537 000, 0713 051172, 0786 683222
