President Paul Kagame (C) on a guided tour at the $25 million Afriprecast factory
President Paul Kagame on Monday inaugurated a $25 million Afriprecast factory, the first manufacturer of pre-cast concrete products in Rwanda.
Located at Masaka, Kicukiro district, Afriprecast prepares all concrete elements in the factory, in a controlled environment which grants high quality, but also takes few days before being placed in construction which finally makes it the cost effective.
The factory proprietors say they will employ 1000 workers.
“I wish to start by commending the owners of AfriPrecast for this valuable addition to Rwanda’s industrial sector,” Kagame said.
The factory is owned by one Alex Bayigamba, family and partners.
“This factory will employ a significant number of people and impart new skills to the workers.”
The president said that AfriPrecast will reduce country’s import bill “and we expect that these products will be exported to the region as well. It means a lot that this is a Rwandan investment. We continue to welcome investors from all over the world, starting from home.”
Earlier in the day, Kagame launched the 15th national dialogue Umushyikirano where he said that export of Made in Rwanda products increased at a rate of 50% this year.
The cabinet last week approved a policy that will enable all bidders supplying materials and products that support Made in Rwanda to get local preference.
22 products attached to local preference include; construction materials, electricity generation and water supply equipment materials, school, and medical equipment.
The new revised law provides tender documents using standard bidding documents.
For instance, under article 22 of the ministerial order establishing regulations on public procurement and standard bidding documents, responsive bids shall be categorised as ‘Bids to be granted local preference’ and ‘other bids’.
Kagame pledged government continued support to the plant and the private sector at large.
