Only light industries will be established in the industrial zone in Kanyinya Sector of Nyarugenge District, The New Times has learned. The City of Kigali and the Ministry of Industry are actively encouraging investors to utilise the new industrial zone. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi, stated that preliminary works such as road demarcation, tracing, and plot beaconing have been completed. Nzove Light Industrial Zone is located near the Nyabarongo River, where Skol Brewery is situated. According to the City of Kigali Master Plan, the area spans 73 hectares, with 15.43 per cent allocated for infrastructure. “The City of Kigali in collaboration with the National Land Authority is considering updating land documents, he noted. The minister said that the establishment of basic infrastructure is expected to cost at least Rwf 210.3 million. “However, that cost does not include water, electrical supply, or the sewerage system, as these have not yet been calculated. ALSO READ: Trade Minister summoned over inefficiencies in industrial parks Nzove Light Industrial Zone will accommodate non-polluting light industries, such as agricultural processing plants, industrial bakeries, building materials and lumber storage, cabinet making, carpentry workshops, and petrol stations. The industrial zone is also targeting to attract investors in food processing plants, research laboratories, light manufacturing and assembly units, automotive services (car washes, repair shops, and machine shops), and storage facilities (bulk, household, and mechanized equipment storage). It also covers wholesale and warehousing services, dry cleaning/laundry operations, and specialised business and science parks. No planned expropriation “There is no planned expropriation. Landowners will develop proposed projects or sell to interested investors. The 15.43% allocated for infrastructure will be supplied under the land contribution mechanism, he said. ALSO READ: Govt secures investor for 'bio-compostable' packaging materials According to Sebahizi, there is no planned expropriation. Instead, landowners will develop proposed projects or sell to interested investors. “The 15.43 per cent allocated for infrastructure will be supplied under the land contribution mechanism, he explained. The physical plan for the Nzove Light Industrial Zone was developed by the City of Kigali under the land readjustment approach, with community engagement. It has already been approved by the city council, he added. Kanyinya, once a rural area in Kigali, will now be urbanised with industries and other infrastructure. Settlement will also be improved, and more housing sites are being constructed. The district is creating two additional settlement sites to allow residents to obtain construction permits. The zone, which currently hosts only two hotels, will also include a hotel site. In a related development, the Rwanda Housing Authority announced that the government will make available over 9,000 hectares of land across the country over the next 30 years for investors wishing to set up industries in different cities. Currently, 1,200 hectares are allocated to industries. Under the new plan, 233 hectares will be allocated to industrial parks in Kigali, 908 hectares in Muhanga, 1,226 hectares in Rwamagana, and 1,483 hectares in Bugesera. At least, 605 hectares will be allocated in Nyagatare, 151 hectares in Huye, 333 hectares in Rubavu, 288 hectares in Rusizi, 424 hectares in Musanze, 238 hectares in Kirehe, 341 hectares in Karongi, and 143 hectares in Nyabihu districts. ALSO READ: Tannery park to be set up in Bugesera to boost leather sector The Cabinet approved the Rwanda Industrial Policy, which aims to contribute to Rwanda’s Vision 2050 by accelerating the country’s structural transformation and enabling the development of a competitive, export-oriented private sector. The 10-year industrial policy runs from 2024 to 2034. 70% of industrial parks operational At least 70 per cent of the industries in industrial parks across Rwanda are operational, with the rest at various stages of development, according to the Ministry of Trade. The government has established two special economic zones — Kigali Special Economic Zone and Bugesera Special Economic Zone — along with eight industrial parks in Rwamagana, Muhanga, Nyagatare, Musanze, Huye, Nyabihu, Rusizi, and Rubavu districts. Under the first National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), Rwf 250 billion was spent on developing industrial parks. The government aims to achieve 10 per cent annual industrial growth and 13 per cent manufacturing growth. Over the next five years, four priority industrial parks — in Rwamagana, Musanze, Bugesera, and the Kigali special economic zones — are expected to play a significant role in the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2). The government says this will contribute substantially to economic growth by boosting exports and creating thousands of jobs. A total of 63,507 jobs are expected to be created by 2029.
