Liberal Party (PL) has promised continued advocacy for increasing industrial parks across the country to create more jobs and increase exports, if its candidates make it to parliament in this month’s elections.

Donatille Mukabalisa, the PL president who is the former parliament speaker, made the promise, on July 8, during a party campaign in Musanze District.

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The party with 54 parliamentary aspirants is also behind RPF-Inkotanyi&039;s candidate, incumbent President Paul Kagame, in the presidential race.

"We need more industrial parks. The industrial parks including the one of Musanze District should also be utilized. Residents need agro-processing factories in the industrial parks to add value to agricultural produce. That is how the trade deficit will be reduced," she said.

So far, the government put in place two special economic zones – Kigali Special Economic Zone and Bugesera Special Economic Zone – and eight industrial parks in Rwamagana, Muhanga, Nyagatare, Musanze, Huye, Nyabihu, Rusizi, and Rubavu districts.

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Bugesera special economic zone lies on over 330 hectares. About 50 hectares of the zone have not yet been expropriated. There are 11 factories with Rwf95 billion of investment in operations.

Two other factories are being constructed.

Rwamagana District industrial park sits on 80 hectares. It has over 11 factories with $59 million investment operating while over 15 factories are still being constructed.

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The industrial park in Huye District has 50 hectares. Investors have invested over $7 million in the industrial park where three factories are running operations while three others are being constructed.

Musanze District-based industrial park has 167 hectares where only a cement factory was set up with $47 million investment. More investors are requesting to operate in it but all required basic infrastructure has not yet been set up, according to the ministry of trade.

Muhanga District industrial park sits on 63 hectares where four factories with over $100 million investment are operating and another one is being constructed.

Rubavu industrial park on 50 hectares was approved by the district council in June, 2023 but is yet to be developed and utilized.

So far, over 150 factories have invested $2 billion in Kigali Special Economic Zone.

Nyagatare District industrial park will also become an agro-processing industrial park, just like Nyabihu District industrial park.

Under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), Rwf250 billion was spent on developing industrial parks and the private sector also contributed. According to Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), the government will avail over 9,000 hectares for investors who want to set up industries in different cities across the country by 2050.

Mukabalisa said: "PL is striving for sustaining what has been achieved so far. Musanze is a district of tourism and good agricultural produce. Therefore, we need agro-processing industries and to develop the industrial parks. Musanze industrial park has to get more factories by supporting the private sector to grow and establish factories.

"If we get seats in parliament we have to advocate for modernizing agriculture and double produce for local and export market. The produce must be processed and exported," she added.

Clementine Nyiraneza, a resident of Busogo Sector, in Musanze District, said the district has potential in growing wheat.

"We grow a lot of wheat. That is why we need a factory to produce flour for the baking industry," she said.

Jean Claude Ruzacimana, another area resident, noted that their potato processing factory also requires a revamp to ensure sustainable market for farmers .