Sadolin Paints, a regional paint maker, will set up a paint factory in Rwanda next year, a move that will reduce the country’s import bill. 

Kalim Y. Amijee, the Sadolin Paints Rwanda boss, said the factory located in the Kigali Special Economic Zone will start production in March. It will have capacity to produce 250,000 litres of paint per month, he added.

He said works at the plant which started early this year are about to be completed.

Sadolin currently is engaged in distribution and imports paint from the company’s plant in Uganda.

The firm also has operations in Tanzania and Kenya.

Firms that make paint locally include Ameki Colour, Crown and Biki Colour.

"Some of the paints will be exported to Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan,” he noted. Kalim said the plant will create about 60,000 jobs for Rwandans, directly or indirectly.

Meanwhile, Sadolin has trained 250 local painters, carpenters, fabricators and dealers in the art of painting, interior design, as well as business management.

The training is aimed at equipping the beneficiaries with skills that will enable them provide quality services and run businesses profitably, Rizwan Ali, the firm’s sales and marketing manager, said.

He added that the firm will be conducting similar training programmes periodically to equip dealers with up to date skills to run businesses profitably.

"I have gained more knowledge on how to mix paint to achieve the desired results.

"This knowledge will help me to improve my business and serve customers better,” said Aloysia Nyirabagabe, a paint supplier who attended the training.

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