The partnership was launched on August 12, in a ceremony attended by representatives of Karongi Tea Factory and Izuba Tea Co. Ltd, Chinese investors, Karongi District Mayor Gerald Muzungu, tea producers organised under the KATECOGRO cooperative, and other stakeholders in the tea sector.
The joint venture brings together Rwanda's long-standing experience in tea cultivation and processing with Chinese technology, technical expertise, international trade knowledge and access to one of the world's largest tea markets.
Partnership driven by quality of Rwandan tea
David Mutangana, Managing Director of Karongi Tea Factory, said the partnership was partly driven by Chinese investors' interest in the quality of Rwandan tea.
'Tea is an important crop for the country. It contributes to the development of producers and the region as a whole. That is why we decided to look for investors in China. When they came here, they visited the tea plantations and were impressed by the quality of the product. That is what convinced them to invest in this sector,' he said.
Mutijima Bryon, Managing Director of Izuba Tea Co. Ltd, highlighted the importance of working with Chinese experts, describing the partnership as a 'strong technical and commercial bridge to China.'
The collaboration is expected to help Izuba Tea add greater value to tea produced in Rwanda and strengthen its presence on international markets.
The company aims to become 'a globally recognised Rwandan tea company' within the next five years, targeting markets across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
'Our role is to combine this natural advantage with the technologies, expertise, investments and access to international markets that are necessary,' Bryon said.
Liu Quiming, speaking on behalf of the Chinese investors, said the partnership followed positive results from tests conducted on Rwandan tea.
'We are very happy about this partnership. When we came to Rwanda to test the tea, we were very satisfied. We took samples to China, where they were very well received. We found that the Karongi factory perfectly matched our expectations in terms of its operations and production capacity, which is why we are here today to launch this partnership,' he said.
Expanding production and value addition
Located in Karongi District in Rwanda's Western Province, near Nyungwe Forest, Karongi Tea Factory began operations in 2012 and specialises in tea processing.
The factory produces several varieties of high-quality tea and has a production capacity of several dozen tonnes per day.
The partnership is also expected to create additional value in the tea sector, increase farmers' incomes, strengthen their economic independence and create jobs.
As production expands, improving the transportation of tea from farms to the factory will be important to supporting the sector's growth and ensuring that farmers can fully benefit from new market opportunities.
Mutangana said the factory is already working with the KATECOGRO cooperative and that continued improvements in transport infrastructure would help facilitate the movement of tea from farms to the factory and strengthen access to markets.
'The factory started operations in 2012. We already work with the KATECOGRO cooperative, and as the sector grows, continued improvements in infrastructure will be important in facilitating the movement of produce to the factory and connecting farmers to expanding markets,' he said.
Karongi District Mayor Gerald Muzungu said local authorities would continue working with stakeholders to support the development of the project and create an enabling environment for its growth.
'We will do everything necessary to ensure the success of this project,' he said, emphasising the initiative's potential to generate economic opportunities for local communities and contribute to the development of the district.
Building a bridge to the Chinese market
In its first phase, Izuba Tea plans to reach an annual production capacity of about 1,000 tonnes.
The initial phase will form the basis for a broader expansion programme. Shareholders plan to reinvest up to $10 million across four development phases to progressively increase production capacity, modernise technology, expand the product range and strengthen the company's international distribution network.
The company also plans to move beyond conventional tea production by developing speciality and value-added products, including matcha.
Izuba Tea intends to adapt its production capacity and product portfolio to meet the requirements of different international markets, positioning the joint venture as a potential channel for increasing the global reach of Rwandan tea.
