Industry leaders, policymakers, and investors convened today at the Kigali Convention Centre for the Textile and Garment CEO Forum, marking a renewed commitment to advancing Rwanda’s textile and apparel industry as a key driver of industrial growth.
The high-level forum brought together stakeholders from across the value chain to align on strategies aimed at accelerating investment in both upstream textile production and downstream garment manufacturing.
Discussions centered on leveraging Rwanda’s investments in the Kigali Special Economic Zone and its preferential market access under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to attract more investors and scale production.
Officiating the forum, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Jean-Guy K. Afrika underscored the sector’s strategic importance to the country’s industrialisation agenda, particularly its capacity to create jobs at scale.
“This sector is a key pillar of Rwanda’s industrialisation agenda, with the capacity for large-scale job creation, particularly for women and youth,” he said.
Afrika also pointed to the untapped opportunity within the industry, noting the gap between domestic demand and local supply.
“We have a clear opportunity to expand local production, increase exports, and further position Rwanda in regional and global value chains,” he added, emphasizing the need to capitalize on growing demand both locally and across the continent.
Throughout the forum, participants explored practical solutions to unlock growth, including strengthening investment across the value chain, improving competitiveness, and fostering innovation.
The sector is increasingly seen as a pathway to boost non-traditional exports, raise manufacturing’s contribution to GDP, and integrate Rwanda more deeply into global apparel markets.
Reaffirming Rwanda’s commitment to a conducive business environment, Afrika called for continued collaboration and open dialogue.
“We must focus on practical solutions that unlock growth, support investor expansion, and accelerate the sector’s contribution to national development,” he added.
As Rwanda advances its industrial ambitions, the textile and garment sector is emerging as a powerful engine for inclusive economic transformation offering opportunities for job creation, export diversification, and stronger participation in global trade.
