Kwale: Kwale county government has thrown its weight behind the proposed Integrated Maritime and Inland Water Transport System (IMTS) Project. The IMTS project being championed by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) aims to modernise marine transportation and improve trade and logistics within Kenyan waters.
According to Kenya News Agency, the maritime project seeks to open new opportunities in trade and logistics for local communities and align with county development priorities. The project involves collaboration between KPA and various county governments, including Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, and Mombasa, to ensure its successful implementation and maximise its benefits.
Governor Achani, who held talks with the KPA team led by the General Manager of Corporate Research Planning and Compliance, Evelyn Mwamure, termed the IMTS project a transformative initiative that would modernise marine transport, boost tourism, improve trade, and create jobs. "I commend KPA for this important multimodal transport project and reaffirm our commitment to ensure it aligns with our development priorities," she said.
Achani expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, emphasising its importance in boosting economic development and improving transportation safety. "As the county government of Kwale, we reaffirm our commitment to working closely with KPA to ensure this project aligns with our county priorities and unlocks sustainable economic opportunities for our people," she added.
The coastal county boss said the project was expected to boost local economies, particularly in areas like maritime tourism, and create job opportunities for residents. "This initiative will not only strengthen marine transport but also position Kwale as a key player in maritime tourism, while creating thousands of job opportunities for our people," said Achani.
Mwamure said her discussion with the Governor centred on the IMTS project, which she said aimed at leveraging the country's extensive waterways for efficient and sustainable transportation. She said the discussions during the meeting were also focused on aligning the project with Kwale county's development priorities to ensure that residents directly benefit from the investment.
She said the IMTS project has gained significant momentum, actively engaging with County governments to advance the project. Mwamure reaffirmed the Authority's commitment to working closely with the coastal county governments to ensure seamless implementation of the project.
She said the IMTS project seeks to modernise marine transportation and improve trade and logistics within Kenyan territorial waters. The KPA official also said the new project also seeks to open new opportunities for local communities and align with county development priorities. "The project involves engaging with the coastal county governments to advance its implementation," she said.
She has reaffirmed the Authority's dedication to building partnerships that bring mutual benefits among the counties.