Rwanda plans to set aside 8,000 hectares of land for sugarcane cultivation as part of efforts to increase local sugar production and reduce import dependency. The government aims to attract at least $50 million in private investment to increase processing capacity and strengthen the sector.
Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi acknowledged that Rwanda’s land constraints make it difficult to achieve full self-sufficiency in sugar production. However, the government is focusing on increasing productivity through high-yielding sugarcane varieties, efficient irrigation and better farm management.
To balance affordability with local industry protection, Rwanda is implementing the East African Community (EAC) Common External Tariff (CET) and safeguards, which allow strategic sugar imports under managed quotas. The government is also encouraging investment in sugar refining and value addition to strengthen Rwanda’s position in regional sugar distribution.
Rather than becoming a major producer of raw sugar, Rwanda aims to increase processing capacity. Trade agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the EAC are boosting industrialization and trade by enabling the country to refine imported raw sugar and re-export finished products.
The government is also supporting sugar-related industries, including ethanol and bioenergy production, to maximize economic benefits. Rwanda aims to position itself as a competitive sugar processing and distribution hub in the region through incentives for private sector investment and trade facilitation measures.
Sebahizi stressed that investment in sugar processing aligns with Rwanda’s broader industrialization strategy by creating jobs, reducing import dependency and strengthening the agro-processing and manufacturing sectors. The development of refining and packaging facilities will further boost the country’s industrial growth, supporting supply chains and downstream industries.