Real Contractors, a prominent construction company, has strategically aligned with KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, with a shared mission to enhance the seamless movement of people within various buildings.
This collaboration holds significant importance as Rwanda's real estate sector continues to thrive, and the country takes on a pivotal role as a Meetings, Investment, Conference, and Exhibition (MICE) destination.
The partnership deal signed on October 25 authorizes Real Contractors to be the exclusive distributor of cutting-edge elevator products within the Rwandan and Burundian markets. These state-of-the-art elevator solutions are sourced directly from KONE's factories in China, Finland, and Italy.
Fred Bugingo, the Managing Director of Real Contractors, noted that this partnership will bring high-quality solutions to the local market, especially considering the increasing construction of high-rise buildings in the region.
Bugingo stated: "Our primary goal is to address the issue of foreign companies installing elevators without providing essential post-installation services, including maintenance and repairs."
He also emphasized the potential to serve numerous projects currently in the pipeline, estimating a need for 51 elevators in the near future.
Azzam Messaykeh, the Managing Director of Distribution Business Mergers and Acquisitions at KONE Middle East and Africa, highlighted the core objective of this partnership: delivering streamlined and optimized solutions for people flow within all projects and developments in Rwanda.
He explained: "We are collaborating with our Rwandan partner, which possesses the technical, financial, and business development capabilities essential to complement each other and actively contribute to Rwanda's vision for growth in 2030 and 2050."
Messaykeh views this partnership as a mutually beneficial endeavour, recognizing Real Contractors' commitment to facilitating business while achieving their respective objectives.
Looking ahead, the next steps involve onboarding Real Contractors onto the KONE platforms for ordering and related procedures, Bugingo noted while outlining plans to provide elevator business training for Real Contractors' staff.
KONE specializes in providing people flow solutions within buildings, offering a comprehensive range of products, including elevators, escalators, and auto-walks. The company operates across three primary areas: providing solutions for new construction, offering maintenance services, and modernizing existing products.
Established in 1910, KONE has built a distinguished reputation for its development projects across diverse regions, including the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe, and China.
Notably, it stands among the world's foremost providers of people flow solutions in high-rise buildings, contributing to six out of the top 10 tallest buildings globally.
Real Contractors, a subsidiary of Crystal Ventures, boasts an illustrious 18-year history of constructing a diverse array of buildings, including hospitality, educational, industrial, and commercial structures.
Their portfolio includes key projects such as the renovation of Amahoro National Stadium, Zaria Court Hotel, Epic Hotel and Suites, and more.
Additionally, the company offers maintenance services to various entities, including Rwanda Airports Company, Kigali Convention Centre, Bank of Kigali, among others. Real Contractors also operates an in-house department specializing in steel, aluminium, and timber production for a variety of projects.