The company plans to launch its silk products on the local market this year

The management of Rwanda’s only textile company, Usine Textile du Rwanda (Utexrwa), targets  to recruit about 6,000 Rwandans in the next five years. The local employees will be only direct workers spread out in different production units.

Utexrwa’s Managing Director, Raj Rajendran, said that the employment target will only be achievable after the implementation of the company’s new investment five-year plan.

"Some will be enrolled in silk production, others in banana and pineapple fabrication whereas others will work in treated mosquito nets unit,” he said. He added that the number will increase gradually as investments increase over a period of five years.

In the company’s five-year plan, $100 million (about Rwf56.2b) will be invested as operation costs and in acquisition of more machinery to supplement on the existing ones.

"This will enable the company to produce quality silk products for exports, mosquito nets, and the proposed banana and pineapple fabric,” he says.

Currently, Utexrwa employs about 750 direct workers in different departments of the factory. But this is also expected to increase to 1000 workers, according to management.

The company is about to start producing mosquito nets this year while also adding value to its silk products.

Rajendran revealed that about 4 million mosquito nets are the target for the local market by the end of this year with initial investments worth $6 million. 

About 8 million nets are targeted by 2010. Without divulging into details, Rajendran disclosed that the company is negotiating with a German company for enhancement of the required technology in mosquito nets production.

"Once all is set, UTEXRWA will start ITNs production by probably by March or April this year having gotten government’s support,” he continued.

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