Following the signing of a deal between the Ministry of Trade and Industry and two companies to construct a garment and footwear factory in the Kigali Special Economic Zone, (KSEZ), textiles in Republic of Rwanda is set to get a boost. While Albert Supply Rwanda will construct a garment factory, Rwantan will be principally into making of belts and shoes. As part of policy of promoting local factories in the textile and footwear industry, the government allocated KSEZ to investors in order to ease the process of land acquisition and construction of factories. However, the minister said the land meant for industries in the SEZ is going to be expensive. One hectare of land in the SEZ would cost $535,000.

With the help of Minicom’s 2016-2017 budget, the government purchased five hectares of land in the SEZ to facilitate investors in the textile and footwear factories. Albert Nsengiyumva, the proprietor of Albert Supply said his company will commence construction activities and the plant will be operational by end of next year. On the other hand, Bede Bedetse, the owner of Rwantan said that upon completion, his factory will produce high quality shoes and belts similar to those imported from abroad.