KIGALI, Nov. 22 — Rwanda on Thursday celebrated the 2024 Africa Industrialization Day in the capital of Kigali, reaffirming its commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of locally produced goods and positioning Rwandan products on the global stage. While addressing the event, Rwandan Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi underscored the importance of building export-driven industries to meet global market demands. “We are enhancing the competitiveness of locally produced goods, boosting exports, and positioning Rwandan products on the regional and global stage. Our challenge is to ensure industries are ready to compete, innovate, and scale for this vast market,” he said. Africa Industrialization Day is commemorated annually on Nov. 20, following a decision by African leaders in 1989. Rwanda celebrated the day under the theme of “Empowered Private Sector for Desired Industrialization and Structural Economic Transformation.” Sebahizi said that the theme closely aligns with Rwanda‘s ambitions to drive industrial growth, create jobs, and build a sustainable economy, emphasizing the critical role of the private sector in achieving these goals. “The day is not just a celebration but an opportunity to reflect on our shared ambitions and chart a clear path forward. Industrialization remains the cornerstone of Rwanda‘s economic transformation,” he said. Sebahizi also stressed the private sector’s role in achieving the Rwanda Second National Strategy for Transformation targets, including doubling exports to 7.3 billion U.S. dollars and increasing investments to 4.6 billion dollars by 2029.
He urged businesses to leverage opportunities from regional economic blocs and free trade agreements, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to boost local production and exports. The event brought together stakeholders from the government, the private sector, academia, and development partners to discuss opportunities and challenges in Rwanda‘s industrialization journey. It also provided a platform to raise awareness about Rwanda‘s new Industrial Policy and strengthen partnerships with the private sector for its effective implementation. Rwanda‘s industrial sector contributed 22 percent to gross domestic product in 2023. By the third quarter of 2024, the sector had created 999,513 jobs, accounting for 21.9 percent of the national total, according to figures shared by the Ministry of Trade and Industry at the event. Rwanda boasts two special economic zones, located in Kigali and Bugesera, and eight industrial parks in the districts of Musanze, Rubavu, Muhanga, Rusizi, Huye, Kicukiro, Rwamagana, and Nyagatare. Over 320 manufacturing plants have been established in the special economic zones and industrial parks, with 70 percent fully operational and 30 percent at various stages of development. According to the African Union (AU), industrialization remains the linchpin of Africa’s Agenda 2063, vital for addressing socioeconomic challenges such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality. The AU’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive industrialization is outlined in key frameworks, including the Action Plan for the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa and the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa. These frameworks, alongside the operationalization of the AfCFTA, aim to stimulate industrial value addition, enhance productivity, develop regional value chains, create jobs, and facilitate a transition to a green and sustainable economy.
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