Satisfying the local market is a big challenge

Editor, RE: “Innovation key to successful Made-in-Rwanda campaign” (The New Times, May 6). Innovation is in fact less of an issue to the Made-in-Rwanda campaign than just producing in sufficient quantities at affordable prices every-day consumer items for ordinary, mostly low-income Rwandans. Such items would need to include things like processed foods and beverages, textiles, clothing and foot-ware, electrical articles, furniture and home-improvement products. They should extend into local production of higher-priced items such as, for instance, a wide range of construction materials to supply one of our fastest-growing sectors and also among the country’s largest generators of waged employment. But the area in which our would-be entrepreneurs should focus most of their efforts and investment as potentially the most financially rewarding is also the single largest source of livelihoods in our country: agriculture. The business(es) able to think of ways to help modernize this sector and to supply most of its tools and other production essentials stand an excellent chance of making money hand-over-fist and, in the process generating a real revolution in realizing the Made-in-Rwanda goals. Where are the real local entrepreneurs to take advantage of all these under-served local markets and do well by doing good? Mwene Kalinda

Opinions

Satisfying the local market is a big challenge