By Samuel Abuya
Rwanda has sealed a deal with Pink Mango C&D, a Chinese garment firm, to build a modern garment factory in the country’s capital, Kigali. According to the Rwanda Development Board, the firm is expected to create an estimated 7,500 jobs for Rwandans.
The factory will be situated at the Kigali’s Special Economic zone that will be producing garments not only for the domestic market but for the export markets as well. According to the released statement, Pink Mango C&D is expected to make accumulative export earnings of $20 million in a span of five years from its inception.
Emmanuel Hategeka, the Rwanda Development Board’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, said the new factory will go a long way in boosting the much needed skills of Rwandans while, at the same time, provide them with jobs and help the country, in general, increase its exports.
“We have been using fiscal measures to progressively discourage the importation of second-hand clothes because it was hurting the growth of the domestic textile and garment industry. Therefore, we are attaining a double objective by signing this deal,” he noted.
Reliable sources indicate that the Chinese firm was attracted by Rwanda’s conducive business environment and its investor facilitation.
Witt-Gruppe, one of the Otto group and one of the leading chains on matters fashion, has already indicated its interests of sourcing products from the firm that is to be set up in Rwanda. Pink Mango C&D will become the second largest investor from China in Rwanda’s manufacturing sector. C&H Garments was the first Chinese garment company to set up in Rwanda and is currently producing uniforms for Rwanda’s police and military, schools and the immigrations department.
C&H Garments directly employ at least 1,000 Rwandans and is arguably the biggest private employer in the Eastern African country.
Africa Global News Publication
