Quality furniture becoming fashionable with ‘Made in Rwanda’ campaign

Quality furniture becoming fashionable with ‘Made in Rwanda’ campaign Rwanda is a country that is increasingly gaining attention for its efforts to boost local manufacturing, particularly in the furniture sector. Paradis Imfura, the founder of Wood Habitat Rwanda, recently sat down with CNBC Africa to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the local furniture industry. Imfura's journey began when she commissioned a piece of furniture in Rwanda and was disappointed with the quality. This experience led her to invest time and effort into improving the standards of locally made furniture. Imfura highlighted skills as the biggest challenge in the local manufacturing sector, emphasizing the need for ongoing skill development initiatives to meet international quality standards. Despite the government's push for technical and vocational education and training (T-VET) programs, Imfura noted that skills development is a gradual process. She acknowledged the progress that has been made in the last four years in establishing a reputation for producing high-quality furniture locally. Wood Habitat Rwanda works closely with local craftsmen to enhance their skills and elevate the quality of their products. Imfura expressed aspirations for exporting their furniture in the future, pointing out the attention to detail required in the manufacturing process. While acknowledging the importance of machinery in improving efficiency, she emphasized the significance of client demand as a driving force for quality improvement. One of the primary challenges facing the local furniture industry in Rwanda is the limited availability of wood. Imfura explained that the country's wood production falls short of meeting the demand, leading to a reliance on imports. She emphasized that the key competitive advantage lies in the quality of products rather than the availability of raw materials. Imfura called on fellow manufacturers to invest in quality and attention to detail to enhance Rwanda's position in regional and international markets. She underscored the importance of ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of resource limitations on the industry. In conclusion, Imfura highlighted the need for continued collaboration and investment in skills development to drive the growth of the local furniture manufacturing sector in Rwanda. By focusing on quality and innovation, Rwandan manufacturers can position themselves competitively on the global stage.