Rwanda’s industrial output increased by 4.8 percent In August 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, according to the latest index of industrial production by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). The increase is against an increase of 6.3 percent on an annual average basis, NISR said. The country's industrial output had grown by 5 per cent in July and 4.6 per cent in June. ALSO READ: Nine priority sectors for new industrial policy in Rwanda The Industrial Production Index is a statistical instrument used to monitor the monthly trends in the output of industrial activities. This includes the goods produced by factories and other industrial businesses in Rwanda. It is also used to compare the performance and growth of the state in the local industrial sector. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s industrial output up by 4.6% in June – NISR According to the statistics body, food processing increased by 9.9 percent while beverages and tobacco increased by 6.2 percent in August. Electricity increased by 55.4 percent while water and waste management increased by 11.4 percent. Mining and quarrying activities decreased by 20.6 percent while manufacturing decreased by 3 percent. The decrease in manufacturing activities is due to a 21.6 percent decrease in non-metallic mineral products and a 58.8 percent decrease in wood, paper, and printing, the report read in part. Another decline was in wood, paper and printing which decreased by 55.8 percent. Rwanda’s industrial sector is a key contributor to the country’s economy, a move that has prompted the government to revise the industrial policy to attract more investment in the country.