The government has announced a plan to increase by more than twice the size of the current Kigali Special Economic Zone (SEZs) to allow for more firms to open shop in the facility. The facility is part of the zones which were set up in different parts of the country to address challenges faced by the private sector such as availability of industrial and commercial land, access to energy, transport linkages, market access and reduced bureaucracy among others. As part of the programme, designated serviced land is provided for small and large scale industrial development, as well as reliable, quality infrastructure, competitive fiscal and non-fiscal regulations and streamlined administrative procedures. This is commendable but while in Kigali the facility, which is set up in two phases (both in Gasabo district) has seen a significant uptake, it is different for some of the other designated zones out of the capital. In Kigali, the zone has been very pivotal in the restoration of environment, where the old industrial park which was located in a wetland, was successfully relocated and efforts are on to restore the said wetland. However, with the increase in land for the zone, other prevailing challenges should be looked into, including expediting the establishment of a ring-road around Kigali, to ensure easier movement of goods. Tonnes of goods are produced that need to be transported to consumers within Kigali and beyond, or raw truckloads of materials needed for use in these industries. Such requires seamless transport and a heavy duty ring road encircling Kigali would come in handy. With Kigali fast becoming a modern city in all aspects, there is need for this road to ensure that cargo trucks do not inconvenience traffic while delivering essential goods to city dwellers or even transiting through to other parts of the country. This also bodes well with the aspirations to have a city that is increasingly green because with no trucks, it will mean less traffic jam within the city suburbs and subsequently less emissions discharged into our atmosphere. Equally important, this infrastructure will create more room for maneuver for city dwellers especially during activities like cycling competitions such as the just-concluded Tour du Rwanda which is continuously gaining global reputation.
