Rwanda’s industrial sector has seen a 9.4% growth over the past year, according to a new report from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR). This increase is mainly due to the rise in agro-processing, animal feed production, and beverages.
From January 2024 to January 2025, production in the animal feed, maize flour, and cooking oil sectors grew by 16.7%, while the beverage sector increased by 13.9%. This growth highlights the importance of industries that process agricultural products.
Experts agree that Rwanda’s industrial sector is developing well, but there is a need for more strategies to help local products compete on international markets.
Erneste Habimana, the director of Gorilla Feed, which produces animal feed, said government support has helped their growth. “We used to produce 4 tons per hour, now we produce 15. This has created jobs and increased animal feed supply,” he said.
Mahmoud SPRO, an entrepreneur from Cyprus and Turkey, also praised Rwanda for being a great place to invest. “Rwanda offers security and support to investors. That’s why we’re happy to invest here,” he said. He also mentioned the country’s remarkable progress over the past seven years.
François Kanimba, an economic expert, said trade between Rwanda and its neighboring countries has increased. However, he stressed that more support is needed to help industries export to global markets. “We need to help local industries improve and compete internationally,” he explained.
While industrial production grew by 9.4% last year, it increased by 7.9% in January 2025 compared to January 2024. However, production in the clothing and leather goods sectors decreased by 8.6%.
The growth in the industrial sector shows that Rwanda is making strong progress in its economic development. However, experts say more work is needed to improve industries and boost exports.
