President Kenyatta at the Volkswagen assembly plant in Thika/FILE
Kigali, Rwanda, Sept 4 – Volkswagen has announced plans to set up a manufacturing plant in Rwanda by the end of 2017.
The company’s Chief Executive Thomas Schafer has said the plant, which will be based in Kigali, will have an output of 1000 cars annually.
Schäfer said that Volkswagen will try to ensure that the new factory works as a local manufacturer ensuring that the cars are environmentally-friendly, have low fuel consumption and quick access to the local market.
“Rwanda is a most amazing country; you have got processes that are super organized. I think Rwanda will be the blueprint for Africa. If we can get in right here, we will get it right in all other places in Africa. But Rwanda will be the first place,” Schäfer told the New Times Report.
Rwanda is the fourth production facility of VW on the Africa continent with other plants in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya.
