The government is considering assigning the management of industrial parks to the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA), as concerns grow over fragmented oversight across the sector.

Trade and Industry Minister Prudence Sebahizi recently informed the Senate that studies conducted by the ministry indicate that NIRDA could assume this role.

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"We have conducted studies and found that NIRDA could manage industrial parks,” he said.

Currently, industrial parks are managed under different arrangements, including government institutions, agencies, and private investors.

Senator Marie Rose Mureshyankwano pointed out the lack of a unified management model, questioning why the parks are not centrally managed.

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"There are different management models for the industrial parks, some by Rwanda Development Board, the ministry, or private investors.”

She said this creates uncertainty and leads to uneven infrastructure development across the industrial zones. It also makes accountability less clear.

"Why shouldn’t there be a centralised way of managing all of them?” Mureshyankwano asked.

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The Private Sector Federation has previously warned that the lack of a coordinated management system for industrial parks contributes to poor maintenance of existing infrastructure.

Minister Sebahizi said ongoing studies on restructuring the operations of NIRDA will inform the final decision on whether to centralise the management of industrial parks under the agency.

There are 10 industrial parks across the country, but the government has prioritised four, Bugesera, Musanze, Rwamagana and Muhanga, to address infrastructure gaps.

These require a combined investment of Rwf127 billion to developed with necessary infrastructure. They are projected to create 63,507 jobs and generate Rwf1,463 billion in revenues by 2029, according to Sebahizi.

He said land compensation has been completed in Rwamagana and Musanze, while infrastructure development stands at 81 per cent in Bugesera, 45 per cent in Rwamagana, 32 per cent in Musanze, and 35 per cent in Muhanga.