Among development pillars the government has put in a lot of effort in order to realize the second part of the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRSII) is skills development.

Vocational training centres have mushroomed in all corners and every province now has its own integrated polytechnic.

Some trades have improved a lot, such as the hospitality sector and information technology, but many still have a long way to go before they can make an impact in the country’s stride towards industrialization.

Of late, there have been campaigns to promote the "Made in Rwanda” label and many local products have started to appear on the shelves.

 But as the Minister of Trade and Industry aptly put it to local manufacturers and producers, the campaign was not an act of kindness but a necessity to boost local products. But how competitive will they fare against regional products?

With the Common Market Protocol that ushered in free movement of goods in the East African Community, Rwandan producers have a lot to do to catch up with their regional competitors who have been in the playing field for decades.

Rwandan products will only make a dent in the competition if they stand out by their quality, branding and aggressive marketing. But no matter the amount of advertising, products will not sell if they do not meet the required standards.

So the Workforce Development Agency still has a lot of ground to cover by producing world class skilled labour and good workmanship for "Made in Rwanda” to be relevant on the crowded market.