Overview

• The manufacturing sector in Rwanda is still small but steadily growing at an annual rate of 7%.
• Rwanda targets to increase industrial contribution to GDP to 26% by 2020.
• several policies and strategies such as the National Industrial Policy and the National Export strategy have been developed to accelerate industrial and export growth
• The country has also put in place a National Industrial Policy which aims at diversifying the economy by increasing the share of industry to the country’s GDP, increase exports to 1.5 billion UsD by 2020 and increase the number of off-farm jobs.
• Market access: Rwanda’s strategic location has boosted cross border trade and increased trade volumes with her neighbor’s especially East-Central Africa with an estimated population of 268 million Key products exported include; beverages, dairy products, processed food and construction materials.
• To increase local domestic and foreign supply of manufactured goods, the Government has put in place the special Economic Zone and four Industrial parks in bugesera, Huye, Nyabihu, Rusizi to address the short comings in the business environment by developing infrastructure, streamlining business regulations and facilitating fast moving investors.

Investment Opportunities

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS:

Rwanda’s building and construction industry has rapidly grown in the past couple of years with both

Government and private sector engaged in the construction of buildings and roads infrastructure. This has resulted in high demand for construction materials including Electric cables, steel materials, Clay products (tiles, bricks, and paving blocks), float glass, wood products and paints. In terms of volume, Rwanda imported 503,195 Tons construction materials – 28% of total import volume in 2013.

TEXTILES AND GARMENTS:

The textile and apparel industry in Rwanda is small with only one major textile manufacturing company (UTEXRWA), a number of sizable small to medium scale operators, knitting cooperatives and a silk sector, which is in its infancy stage. Given the unique characteristics of the Rwandan market, the following local production options seem most promising:

• Manufacture of mosquito bed nets for malaria prevention: Rwanda promotes universal coverage of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN’s) as part of an integrated strategy of combating the malaria disease.
• Processing of cotton, wool, and other woven fabric for use in uniforms and work wear; Weaving bed sheets and towels
• New garments manufacturing – Rwanda has banned imports of second hand cloths

PACKAGING MATERIALS:

Rwanda imports most of the packaging materials needed in the country.

Most promising opportunity would be the manufacturing of corrugated paper and carton board boxes, unprinted paper labels, small paper bags and sacks, and paper containers would appear to be the most promising market segments on the domestic market.

SOAPS AND DETERGENTS

The estimated size of the market demand for soaps and cleaning products is about US$50m with estimated domestic production of US$15-20m, representing about 40% of the total market size

MOTORCYCLES ASSEMBLING

Motorcycle transport is one of the most common modes of transpport, in Rwanda and in the region, and the demand for motorcycles is growing. There is great opportunity in local assembly of motorcycles to meet local and regional demand

For any further details/information you may require, please contact:

NIKUZE Alice
Manufacturing Specialist
Investment Promotion Department
Email: alice.nikuze@rdb.rw Telephone: +250 788896510

Copy to:

Philip Lucky
Head-Investment Promotion Department
Email: philip.lucky@rdb.rw