[ACCI-CAVIE] Inyange Industries Limited, the country’s leading agribusiness company, plans to commission a milk processing unit in Rwanda within the next two months. This was revealed by James Biseruka, the company’s managing director, in an interview with the local daily The NewTimes on February 15 2023.

The new plant, which will cost a total of $45 million, is being set up at a site in the Nyagatare district of the Eastern Province. It will have a processing capacity of 650,000 liters of raw milk per day and is expected to supply 50 tons of milk powder and 150,000 liters of long-life (Ultra High Temperature) milk daily.

According to the official, the production of the plant will be dedicated to 20% of the domestic market while the rest will be shipped to the countries of the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Middle East countries.

To ensure a continuous and steady supply of raw material, the plant relies on local farmers in the region and surrounding areas. “We are mobilizing dairy farmers, and we have started by signing contracts with 352 cattle farmers in Nyagatare district,” said Biseruka.

More broadly, the new investment is expected to increase the company’s raw milk processing capacity to a total of 800,000 liters per day from the current level of only 150,000 liters.

Founded in 1997, Inyange Industries Limited also operates in the fruit segment where it produces and markets a wide variety of fruit products including juice concentrates and fruit-based drinks.

By SA and LB