The government plans to set up a dairy processing plant in Burera District to boost local production of cheese and other milk products, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry Emmanuel Hategeka has said.

PS Hategeka was speaking during the launch of a two-day cheese exhibition organised by the Private Sector Federation in partnership with the Rwanda Diary Competitiveness Programme (RCDP II) at the New Papyrus restaurant in Kimihurura, Kigali, on Thursday.

"Rwanda imports more than 40 tonnes of cheese annually. However, this can be reversed if you work together and increase cheese production so that we replace imported cheese that has dominated stalls in various supermarkets across the country with our own and even export some,” Hategeka said.

The PS added that the dairy factory in Burera will aim to reduce the need for imported cheese.

Cheese makers awarded

The exhibition also included a competition in which local cheese makers participated.

Acting chief of party RDCP II, Dennis Karamuzi, said the objective of the expo and awarding the top cheese makers in the country was to evaluate the improvement in processing of the Rwandan cheese.

Nine cheese making companies of Muhe farm ltd, Fromagerie le Reine ltd, Gishwati farms ltd, Local Cheese Promotion Ltd, Gishwati Mountain Farm Ltd, Urugyero, Royal diaries, Ingabo Dairies and Les Cavabon took part in the competition.

Gishwati Farms Ltd emerged overall winner, scooping three awards in the categories of best Mozzarella cheese class, continental and fresh cheese class.