This partnership with the Rwandan government aims at developing an industrial zone in Bugesera District to promote and attract multi-sectoral industrial and commercial investments in the country.
A special economic zone (SEZ) to be developed by ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP), a pan-African developer and operator of world-class industrial ecosystems, is expected to be fully operational in three years, starting in 2022.
It will be built in three phases on a total area of 330 hectares.
The SEZ will focus on local wood processing on the site, where agro-processing, logistics, packaging, building materials, raw materials into high value-added products and other processing industries will be developed.
This agreement is expected to contribute to the implementation of Rwanda’s industrialisation programme and the creation of commercial and industrial value chains.
Strategically located, the zone will be 10km from the new Bugesera International Airport, which is expected to be the largest airport in the country, and 50km from Kigali, which has become a key economic and cultural centre in the region.
“We are honoured to be able to partner with the Government of Rwanda to develop the Bugesera SEZ. With our experience as a developer and operator of industrial ecosystems across Africa, we intend to support the Rwandan government’s efforts to develop the country,” said Gagan Gupta, founder and CEO of ARISE IIP.
Clare Akamanzi, CEO of the Rwanda Development Authority (RDA), said he was delighted to be partnering with ARISE IIP to develop and operate a special economic zone in Bugesera District, which will become an emerging hub for trade and investment.
“Strategic investments like this not only promote investment and exports in the country, but also create jobs for our people as we strive to become a middle-income economy. We look forward to working with ARISE IIP to ensure that the objectives of the Bugesera SEZ are met,” he said.
In recent years, ARISE IIP has seen remarkable expansion across Africa with 12 integrated industrial zones that are now accelerating the industrialisation of the continent.
The structure also manages the Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ), focused on the timber industry, where 120 investors have joined the project and 16 000 jobs have been created.
As a log exporter, Gabon has become the world’s second largest producer and exporter of veneer, and the largest in Africa. Across the continent, ARISE IIP has always been committed to creating industrial ecosystems with high local added value and sustainable growth.
Committed to the economic transformation of the continent, ARISE IIP identifies opportunities in commercial and industrial value chains across Africa. It designs, finances, builds and operates the necessary infrastructure, acting as a catalyst while supporting countries in their transition to an industrial economy.
The Rwanda Development Authority, the government agency charged with leading the country’s transformation into a dynamic global centre for business, investment, tourism and innovation, is involved in the project. Its mission is to accelerate Rwanda’s economic development by promoting private sector growth.
AP/lb/as/APA