Rwanda could save up to 50 percent of expenses spent on importing roofing materials following the launch of the country’s first ever roofing materials factory in Special Economic Zone, Nyandungu, Kigali.

Employing state of the art automated technology from South Korea, there is hope that Hippo Roofing Factory will boost the quest for locally sourced raw materials and reduce on the importation bills.

It is also expected to play a critical role in helping government to balance its trade through export promotion and import substitution.

Getenet Motle, Chief Executive Officer S&H Industries Ltd, Rwanda, is optimistic the factory will strengthen Rwanda’s competitiveness in the region as he explains to The New Times’ Peterson Tumwebaze on the strategies the company is employing to boost the country’s capacity to produce and export stone-coated roofing tiles.