Fish mongers at the shores of Lake Victoria. A Chinese firm is planning to set up a fish processing plant in Kisumu. [Photo/princafe.com]
Kisumu County Governor Anyang' Nyong'o has welcomed plans by a Chinese company to set up a fish processing plant near Lake Victoria.
The company, Weiye Luofei Limited, has inked a deal with the county government to establish a Sh1.2 billion fish farm and processing factory in the area to boost fishing sector, Sunday Standard reports.
The plant, which has a capacity to process 300 tonnes of Tilapia monthly, targets the growing US and European export markets.
Nyong'o, through his economic advisor Victor Nyagaya, said the factory, whose construction will begin early 2018, will lift Kenya's fish exports and reduce the flooding of local markets with imports from China.
"The roadmap has been laid and a location identified for the project which is expected to create about 500 direct jobs upon opening, scaling gradually to over 1,000," Nyagaya said.
He also disclosed that there are plans to convert 100 acres of Lake Victoria at the Korando Peninsular into a fish farm where cages will be managed by selected farmers to supply fish.
"The firm will invest heavily in fish farming on the lake to sustain its operation," Nyagaya said.