Dutch Firms Plan Investments in Rwanda

Upon hearing about Rwanda being a country with abundant livestock and horticulture opportunities, 19 Dutch companies flew in, to explore prospects.

The firms include: seven in livestock and 12 in horticulture. Among them is Pluriton, a company specializing in exporting eggs and chicks to Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Green innovators group, Bosman Van Zaal, and horticultural automation suppliers are also among the prospective investors.

With the help of the Rwandan Embassy in the Netherlands, the delegation, which arrived on November 22nd in the capital Kigali, were presented with several opportunities in the country as well as appointments with local companies.

Matchmaking sessions and workshops were held at the AgriProFocus conference ‘Promoting Innovation and Trade in Horticulture’ from 25 to 27 November, where over 500 producers, traders and input suppliers from all over East Africa gathered.

This arrangement was organized under the banner of “the Netherlands African Business Council and partners. Which included the Rwandan Embassy in the Netherlands, SPARK, RDB, PSF, AgriProFocus and Greenport Holland.

Part of the delegation interested in livestock visited the Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority, livestock development organizations: animal feed factories, large meat and dairy processors and poultry farms.

There were also individual business and networking meetings.

Rwanda’s dairy sector has experienced rapid growth with a reported milk surplus, presenting several opportunities along the supply chain ranging from breeding, fodder production and milk quality control to processing.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country’s poultry sector is booming and offers investment opportunities including; hatchery, fodder production, and egg production.

For example chicken meat production has increased by 78% over the last 10 years and egg production stands at 32% growth in the same time period.

Rwanda also presents the opportunity to utilize gaps in the horticulture sector. While the country still imports fruits and vegetables from neighboring countries, its untapped fertile volcanic soil presents excellent prospects for local producers and traders to better meet local demand.

The country also offers a large demand for skills, technologies and products that can increase production in horticulture sector.

Investors can also utilize the demand for fertilizers, irrigation equipment, greenhouses, processing equipment and seeds.

Rwanda’s steady 7% growth rate, stable government and growing consumer base present the ideal opportunity for smart investors.