The plant, owned by HQ-Aqua Plastic Ltd, will produce more than 1,800 tonnes of construction and sanitary hardware annually. Its product range includes plumbing and electrical fittings, water system pipes, LED lighting, Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) wall panels, and glass shower enclosures essential for interior finishing works.
Located in the rapidly developing Bugesera Industrial Park, the factory occupies a one-hectare plot, with 6,000 square metres of built-up space, half of which is currently in use. It has a daily production capacity of up to five tonnes and is expected to significantly reduce Rwanda's reliance on imported construction materials.
Speaking during a pre-inauguration event on Wednesday, July 23, Jean Bosco Mungwarareba, the founder and managing director of HQ-Aqua Plastic Ltd, said his 25 years of experience importing construction materials inspired him to invest in local production.
The move aligns with the government's 'Made in Rwanda' initiative aimed at promoting local manufacturing and reducing the trade deficit.
Mungwarareba said he aims to expand the factory's capacity so that, in the near future, it can locally produce at least 30 percent of the construction materials he used to import.
'Eventually, we want to start exporting these high-quality products and help bring foreign currency into the country rather than lose it through imports.'
Currently, the factory employs 22 permanent staff, with more casual workers expected as production scales up.
The Private Sector Federation (PSF) has praised the initiative, noting the strategic importance of local manufacturing. Callixte Kanamugire, Chief Advocacy Officer at PSF, said the factory will not only help cut Rwanda's import bill but also support job creation and export growth.
'These are globally competitive products. With the government's emphasis on quality assurance, local factories like this one are well-positioned to serve both domestic and regional markets,' Kanamugire said, adding that such ventures are key to addressing Rwanda's trade deficit.
The Bugesera Industrial Park, which spans 335.67 hectares, is being developed in three phases as part of a joint venture between the Government of Rwanda and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP).
Phase I covers 91.63 hectares and already hosts 18 factoriesâ€"12 operational and six under construction. Phase II, extending over 99.45 hectares, is set for completion by the end of this year, while Phase III (144.58 hectares) is scheduled to be finalised by 2027.
Once fully developed, the industrial zone is expected to contribute $1.2 billion to Rwanda's manufacturing sector, create 45,000 jobs, and attract over $400 million in foreign direct investment.
Damascene Munyaneza, Director of Administration and Finance at HQ-Aqua Plastic Ltd, applauded government efforts in creating enabling environments for industrial growth.
'The establishment of special economic zones is accelerating the implementation of Rwanda's National Strategy for Transformation (NST2),' he said.
The establishment of the new factory marks a significant step towards greater self-reliance in the construction sector and positions Rwanda as a rising industrial hub in the region.
IGIHE
