WEF_GrowAfrica_AnnualReport2014

Forward Look
Forward Look
Investment and Partnering Opportunities
The following investment opportunities have been
identified by the Government of Rwanda:
Interest sought in managing new seed
processing facility
In recognition of the priority accorded by the GoR
to ensuring access to quality agricultural inputs, the
government has built warehouses/silos and processing
facilities for value addition downstream of the seed
value chain with a view to building capacity to tap into
emerging markets.
Specifically, the government has built a 10,000-tonne
p.a. capacity seed processing plant in the Kigali
Special Economic Zone. In the spirit of public-private
partnership, it is now looking for private seed operators
to take over management of this plant and other
facilities to ensure a reliable supply of locally-produced
quality seeds of high-yielding varieties to service
domestic and foreign demand.
While domestic consumption is currently limited to
8,000 tonnes, available export markets for surplus seed
already exist in Burundi and the Democratic Republic
of Congo. With its favourable business climate and
location, Rwanda is ideally placed to become the seed
supply hub for the wider Eastern Africa region.
In gearing up towards privatisation, the government
is currently reviewing seed laws to integrate Plant
Variety Protection (PVP) or Plant Breeders’ Rights, thus
enabling private seed companies to develop their own
varieties in the country. It has also committed to end
seed subsidies by the last quarter of 2014 so as to
fully engage the private sector in seed production and
distribution by the commencement of the 2015 season.
The development of horticulture has therefore been
identified as a top priority to which the GoR has
channelled a considerable amount of resources,
resulting in a tremendous increase in annual
horticultural production that currently stands at 2.5
million tonnes.
However, as marketing of this produce remains
haphazard, it is considered that the development of a
modern wholesale market facility would help better
promote the sector while providing an attractive
investment opportunity.
The GoR accordingly seeks interested investors
as partners to build a proposed “Kigali Whole Sale
Market” in the capital’s Special Economic Zone,
consisting of a 10 ha facility with the capacity to hold
300,000 tonnes of produce by 2030. The total cost
of the project is estimated at $31.4 million (70% being
capital investment for construction) to be completed
in three phases. The initiative has the potential to
create up to 2,000 jobs within the market itself and
through affiliated businesses.
Floriculture is another area with great export
potential. The Gishari Flower Park, which covers
100 ha and has the capacity to produce and sell 95
million stems, requires further investment to build
basic infrastructure, such as greenhouses.
Value-addition opportunities in potato
and dairy processing
Rwanda is shifting to value addition in all agriculture
sectors, with the greatest opportunities existing in
potato and dairy processing.
potato yields (12 tonnes/ha) are higher than those of
regional competitors, with further potential to increase
yields to 25 tonnes/ha. Yet despite rich volcanic
soils, high altitudes and widespread cultivation in the
Northern Province ensuring continued growth, only
15% of Rwandan potatoes are processed into chips or
crisps.
To enable high-potential markets in the region to be
serviced, the value chain needs to be strengthened
through the addition of a modern cold storage facility
in Musanze district (requiring an investment of around
$1.8 million) and a potato processing plant (involving
the injection of around $8.8 million).
Dairy value addition also exhibits great potential, as
only 10% of Rwanda’s milk is currently processed.
The opportunities available in dairy processing include
fermented milk, yoghurt, cheese, butter, ice cream,
milk powder, ghee, as well as flavoured and sweetened
milk. Proposals for independent ventures are also
welcome.
Point of contact for investments
Potential investors wishing to express their interest or
find out more should get in touch with:
Jjiibwa Rucibigango, Investment Specialist,
Ministry of Agriculture | jrucci@minagri.gov.rw
| +250 72 699 5709
Investment openings in high-potential
horticulture
With the surge in demand for horticultural imports
from regional and international markets due to
climate change and the desire for organic produce,
Rwanda’s ideal growing conditions could see the
country serve as a hub for supplying fresh fruit,
vegetables and processed food to the region and
beyond.
Demand for processed potato chips has been growing
at a rate of 10-17% annually in central and east Africa,
fuelled by a rapidly urbanising population and a thriving
tourism market. The majority of processed potato chips
are imported from Europe and South Africa, with only
two major factories producing frozen potato chips in
East Africa – in Nairobi and Uganda.
Rwanda is the largest producer of potatoes in East
Africa and the 3rd largest in sub-Saharan Africa. Its
In 2013, this hub farm for maize, was established through a partnership with Heineken.
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Rwanda
Rwanda
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