The factory, A-ZF Global Trading, located in the Masoro Industrial Zone in Gasabo District, currently has a production capacity of 100,000 cups per day, with plans to expand to 500,000 cups daily within the next two years.
Starting with 20 employees, the factory expects to grow its workforce to 300 in the same period, supporting the government's goal of creating 1.25 million jobs in five years.
'This is the first factory of its kind in Rwanda,' said Ismael Ndayisenga, Managing Director of A-ZF Global Trading. 'These products were imported mainly from China and Dubai. We aim to offer Rwandans faster access, better prices, and high quality.'
The cups are made from biodegradable paper, including both the cup and lid, to support the country's efforts to reduce plastic use and protect the environment. Customers can also request custom branding, such as company logos or event designs.
Ndayisenga said the company plans to expand its market to neighbouring countries and diversify into other packaging materials, such as cartons and wrapping paper, to further reduce imports.
Under the National Strategy for Transformation II (NST2), Rwanda aims to double private investment from $2.2 billion to $4.6 billion by 2029, with manufacturing expected to play a major role.
Hugues Kagame, a technical advisor at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, supporting the implementation of Rwanda's Entrepreneurship Development Policy (EDP), said the government is supporting industrial growth through incentives such as tax relief and reduced production costs, to make local products more competitive internationally.
He noted that A-ZF Global Trading contributes to the Made in Rwanda initiative by producing items that were previously imported, helping to raise industrial output by 10% in the coming years.
Rwanda's industrial sector has tripled in output since 2017, rising from Frw 591 billion to Frw 1.68 trillion by early 2025. The number of people employed in manufacturing has also increased from 180,000 in 2017 to 259,000 in 2024, reflecting continued growth in the sector.
Photos: Kwizera Herve
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/first-paper-cup-manufacturing-plant-opens-in-rwanda
