The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has signed an MoU with Huajian Group, a Chinese business and investment company specialising in shoe manufacturing. Huajian Group is owned by Zhang Huarong and it mainly specialises in production of high- and middle-end women’s shoes with three production bases, including one in Ethiopia. The agreement is part of the company’s expansion plans in East Africa.
“Zhang Huarong has invested in Ethiopia and now produce shoes worth over $30 million. His success has shown him that Africa is a place where you can make high-quality exports for products consumed by markets like in the US,†said Clare Akamanzi, the RDB chief executive.
“He has done his homework and has seen that Rwanda is one of the most attractive places to do business, and he wants his next factory to be in Rwanda serving as centre for East Africa.†The agreement will see the company establish a factory that will be producing shoes, clothes, bags as well as electronic equipment.