Manufacturing grew by 10% during this period. The sector is characterized by gradual diversification from basic manufacturing to more value-adding activities in other sub-sectors that include:

• Fast-moving consumer goods such as detergents, body care products, paper tissues, plastic goods, papers, chemicals, beverages, textiles, leather and footwear and cosmetics;
• Construction materials such as granite tiles, cement, roofing sheets and tiles and steel bars and light items;
• Furniture Laboratory Equipment and;
• Electronic & Automotive manufactured goods such as phones, computers and vehicle-assembly.

The economy is heavily dependent on the growing sector as primarily and fully manufactured exports from Rwanda have found a big market in the EAC region due to their high quality and strategic positioning of the country.

Although Rwanda’s liberalized economy has exposed locally manufactured products to stiff competition from imports, compliance with required international standards gives them an upper hand.