Manufacturershave been urged to work together and fight counterfeited products as they threaten the survival of locally-made goods.

Robert Bayigamba, the chairman of the Rwanda Association of Manufacturers (RAM), said joining hands with the standards body and sector players to fight counterfeits will support local producers and ensure consumer confidence.

Bayigamba was speaking during a manufacturers meeting on Friday in Kigali organised by RAM.

He urged manufacturers to build on the successes achieved last year; and be more aggressive and innovative to stay competitive.

"We are working with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to find mechanisms on how to strengthen the industrial sector so as to enhance its contribution to the country’s development agenda,” he said.

This will be possible only if we worked together towards building a strong "Made in Rwanda” brand, Bayigamba added.

He also urged industrialists to take workers’ welfare and livelihoods as top priority. Bayigamba was reacting to reports of mistreatment of workers by some manufacturers.

Alphonsine Rubangura, the chairperson of the Chamber of Industries at the Private Sector Federation, said it is important for stakeholders to work together to take the sector to the next level.

"Government is creating an enabling business environment for the private sector, especially to support industrial growth,” Rubangura said.

Rubangura noted that the private sector, through Chamber of Industry, would create economic clusters to help the country realise its growth targets.

"It is important that we initiate and promote co-operation between manufacturers and customers and work towards improving the sector development, profitability and competitiveness,” she added.

Rwanda’s manufacturing sector grew by 5 per cent during the second quarter of last year, contributing 14 per cent to the national GDP. The government is counting on the sector to reduce the huge import bill, and widening trade deficit.