The Lower House, on Monday, resolved to summon Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, the Minister of Trade and Industry, to provide explanations regarding issues highlighted in the Auditor General's performance audit report on the development of industrial parks in the country. The resolution was made following the Lower House's adoption of a report from the Committee on Economy and Trade, which assessed the development of industrial parks as outlined in the Auditor General's report. Some of the highlighted issues include the approval of industrial park sites without prior environmental impact assessments, the construction of factories without considering the specific requirements of each factory and its products, the absence of basic infrastructure within industrial park boundaries, ongoing habitation within these parks, and investor delays in utilizing allocated industrial plots of land. ALSO READ: Kigali Special Economic Zone to be doubled in size The Chairperson of the Committee on Economy and Trade, MP Theogene Munyangeyo, expressed concern about the lack of factory zoning that takes into account the unique nature of each factory and the products it produces, especially within the Kigali Special Economic Zone. The audit revealed that food processing factories were located near those that manufacture products containing chemicals, he said. Munyangeyo also noted that the absence of fundamental industrial zone infrastructure was predominantly observed in Huye, Musanze, and Rusizi. MP Frank Habineza emphasized the importance of conducting environmental and social impact assessments before commencing industrial operations. He stressed the necessity of understanding the potential environmental and health impacts on residents living in proximity to industrial parks. People inhale those emissions. Some factories operate at night, exposing residents to adverse effects on their lives, he added. ALSO READ: Parliament asks Prime Minister to solve Rwamagana steel factory emission issue In addition, Munyangeyo pointed out concerns regarding the agreement between the Government of Rwanda and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP), a pan-African developer of industrial ecosystems, concerning the management of Bugesera Industrial Park. The agreement stipulates that the government holds a 40% share while ARISE IIP owns a 60% stake. However, Munyangeyo noted that other government contributions, such as providing 330 hectares of land, electricity supply from the national grid, sanitation systems, water provision, and access roads, were not accounted for in the shares. Furthermore, Munyangeyo raised the issue of the shutdown of an industrial park in Nyabihu district, which incurred a government investment of more than Rwf795 million. He explained that this decision was made because there were alternative industrial parks nearby that could fulfill the intended purpose. Following the shutdown, the district leadership sought permission from the Ministry of Trade and Industry to repurpose the land for farming, aiming to utilize idle land effectively. ALSO READ: New policy to ease access to land in industrial zones Munyangeyo suggested that the government's decision to allocate unused land suitable for agriculture to farmers for cultivation could serve as a solution to this issue.
