APA – Kigali (Rwanda) President Paul Kagame has inaugurated a new cement factory, a joint venture with West China Cement, West International Holding and Rwanda, in Muhanga, a district in the south of the country.
The $100 million facility targets an annual output of a million metric tonnes output in order to address the supply deficit in the market.
AnJia Prefabricated Construction Rwanda Company Ltd, a subsidiary of West International Holding, the Africa arm of West China Cement (WCC), which is a Chinese investment group listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, has built AnJia Cement Factory in the Muhanga industrial park.
While inaugurating the new state of art plant, Kagame pointed out that for manufacturers this means more opportunities to invest in new markets and create jobs in our communities. Challenges remain but they can be overcome through more cooperation.
“To enhance the performance of the industry, it is essential to deliver higher quality products and shift to more sustainable manufacturing practices. Only then can we continue gaining ground to remove regulatory barriers, increase beneficial competition and reduce prices,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Zhang Jimin, chairman of West China Cement Limited, said that AnJia marks the company’s first investment and represents the initial cooperation between West China Cement and the Rwandan government at all levels.
West China Cement Limited invested 50 million U.S. dollars to construct a high-performance cement grinding plant with an annual output of 1 million tonnes in the Muhanga industrial park, said Wang Xuekun, Chinese ambassador to Rwanda, at the ceremony.
There are currently three companies that manufacture cement in Rwanda. These include Cimerwa Cement Limited, Kigali Cement Company and Prime Cement Limited.
CU/as/APA