How Rwanda plans to increase efficiency in its manufacturing industry

Rwanda is making significant strides in its efforts to boost efficiency and growth in its manufacturing industry. The Government of Rwanda is rolling out a new initiative, the Manufacture and Build to Recover program, aimed at supporting manufacturing and construction projects to further enable investors to establish companies that cater to both domestic and export markets. The program, set to launch its second phase under the leadership of Rwanda's Prime Minister, is a response to the global shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic challenges like the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In a recent interview with CNBC Africa, Richard Tusabe, Rwanda’s Minister of State In charge of National Treasury, highlighted the success of phase one of the program, which has already created 36,000 jobs and attracted $1.8 billion in investments. The government aims to build on this success to attract more investors and further drive the sector's growth. Tusabe emphasized the need to focus on recovery and job creation to address the impact of the global shocks on the economy. The program aims to increase production capacity in existing manufacturing facilities and explore new opportunities in sectors like agro-processing and construction. Additionally, Rwanda is looking to revise its tax system to better support the manufacturing sector and address domestic challenges like food security. The government seeks to design a tax framework that not only attracts investors but also reduces costs for consumers, ultimately driving growth and competitiveness in the industry.