Milly Glass SEZ’s 300,000-bottle daily plant targets Kenya’s monthly drug packaging imports

KENYA – Milly Glass SEZ has commenced production of medical-grade glass bottles at the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, producing 300,000 units daily to reduce Kenya’s reliance on imported pharmaceutical packaging valued at approximately KSh 60 million (US$465,000) per month.

The facility, equipped with manufacturing technology sourced from Germany, Italy and Switzerland, will supply Kenya’s pharmaceutical industry while targeting export markets across Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. 

The plant marks a significant milestone as the first pharmaceutical glass manufacturing operation of its kind in Africa, addressing a critical gap where all pharmaceutical bottles have historically been imported, primarily from India and Pakistan.

300 Direct Jobs and 200 Indirect Jobs from Dongo Kundu SEZ Investment

The factory is expected to generate approximately 300 direct jobs and another 200 indirect jobs in transport, logistics, packaging and raw material supply. 

More than 100 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are also expected to benefit through business opportunities created by the investment. 

Milly Glass SEZ Director Mohamed Rashid noted that the government should create a proper access road to the factory site to enable movement of delicate materials. 

The project is the Milly Group’s second major manufacturing investment in Kenya after establishing a juice processing plant in Malindi earlier this year. 

The availability of locally produced glass packaging will enable the recycling of glass waste generated in Kenya, which has historically been exported as scrap, contributing to a more circular economy.

Kenya’s 80% Pharmaceutical Import Gap and Health Security Goals

The investment comes as Kenya accelerates efforts to expand local pharmaceutical manufacturing, with the government committed to achieving pharmaceutical self-sufficiency by 2028. 

Kenya currently imports more than 80 per cent of its pharmaceutical requirements, making local manufacturing a national priority, with a 22 per cent decline in pharmaceutical import expenditure already recorded between 2024 and 2025. 

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has highlighted the urgency of closing Kenya’s pharmaceutical supply gap, describing local production as a critical pillar of health sovereignty. 

The Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone, located near the Port of Mombasa, is being positioned as a centre for export-oriented manufacturing and industrial development, with Afreximbank financing the development of the zone under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. 

The glass packaging produced at the factory is fully recyclable, reducing the environmental impact of pharmaceutical packaging waste while supporting Kenya’s circular economy objectives.

Subscribe to our email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE