A UK based firm, Symphony International in collaboration with a local firm, Alternative Packaging Solution that imports biodegradable plastic bags, plan to establish a plant in Kigali to manufacture biodegradable plastic materials.This was disclosed by Phillipe Michon, the chief scientific advisor of Symphony International, in an interview with The New Times.Michon was in the country to hold talks with government over the issue.Symphony International deals in production of environmentally friendly bags around the globe."The feasibility study was done by the Rwandan government under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. We want to establish our technology here to help provide environmentally–friendly plastic materials in Rwanda,” Michon said. "The study has proved that the project is valuable and it will be able to produce packaging materials needed for the local industry.”He said plans are underway to embark on the construction of the plant but could not ascertain the exact amount involved in the project.Local manufacturers consider the packaging materials a burning issue due to the prohibitive costs involved as most of them are imported thereby increasing the cost of production.This puts them at a competitive disadvantage on the international market.Vianney Kabera, the Director of Fresh Pack Exports, a firm that exports fresh produce to Europe recently observed that unless the government intervenes to find a lasting solution, local traders would continue to lose out ."If you import packaging materials, there is no way you can compete with others on the international market, and this is a serious problem that the government should look into,” he noted.He said he spends $10,000 a month to import packaging materials from the region, which negatively impacts his business.According to Michon, the plant which would be the first of its kind in the region, will also supply other neigbouring countries. The chairman of Private Sector Federation, Faustin Mbundu, welcomed the initiative adding that it would help in the development of the local industry. "It will help us to increase competition locally and access regional markets.”Experts point out that some local products cannot access international markets due to poor packaging materials.The UK company would provide technological assistance to build a laboratory to test raw materials.Trade and Industry minister Francois Kanimba recently acknowledged the  challenge of packaging materials, saying it mostly affects small and medium enterprises.  He, however, said investors were yet to show an interest in locally producing the materials."We know it is an issue and the importation of packaging materials is costly to the SMEs. However, investors should seize this opportunity; unfortunately we have not received anyone to venture into this,” he observed.