More than 270 painters and paint dealers acquired entrepreneurial skills to enhance professionalism in the country’s painting industry on Wednesday at Hilltop hotel in Remera.

The training conducted by Sadolin paints Rwanda is done every after two months to foster professionalism in the industry. 

The painters were tipped on various market products, pricing and standards that govern the sector.

Ali Rizwan, Sadolin’s sales and marketing manager Uganda, said the training is part of the capacity building aimed at making the painting industry more competitive.

"We want to equip all stake holders in this industry with the knowledge and skills on latest innovations and technologies about the industry so they can become entrepreneurs who will contribute to the economic development of Rwanda.”

Evaliste Ndayiringimana, a seasoned painter in Kigali, said that equipping market players with right skills will help attract more small and medium players in the sector.

This will ultimately accelerate the growth of the industry, Ndayiringimana, noted.

More employment opportunities

Rizwan revealed that the painting firm will soon open a factory in the Kigali Free Trade Zone.

According to Kalim Y. Amijee, the Sadolin Paints Rwanda boss, the new factory could create 60,000 jobs for Rwandans.

The new factory is expected to produce more than 250,000 liters of paint a month.

 Currently paint on the market is imported from Uganda reflecting the high paint prices in the country.

The new factory is expected to play a critical role in reducing the import bill and bringing down paint prices.