Egypt's Leather and More Eyes Rwanda Factory for African Expansion

Egypt-based Leather and More Company studies an industrial investment project in Rwanda’s leather sector. Rwanda operates only one tannery that processes less than 5% of locally produced animal hides. The government backs the sector with a $15 million leather industrial park project in Bugesera. Rwanda’s leather sector could welcome a new foreign entrant. According to local outlet The New Times on Sunday, January 18, Egyptian manufacturer Leather and More Company is studying plans to establish an industrial operation in the country. The company specializes in leather footwear and by-products such as gelatin, collagen, and pharmaceutical products. “My objective is to build partnerships with local players in order to set up a leather factory here. Within one to four weeks, I hope to present a clear roadmap for this cooperation,” said Hesham Gazar, chief executive officer of Leather and More Company. For now, the company has not disclosed the size of the planned investment. However, the project, if confirmed, would strengthen the capacity of Rwanda’s still nascent leather industry. Official data show that Rwanda operates only one functional tannery in Huye, which processes less than 5% of locally produced animal hides. Capacity expansion carries strategic importance because the government aims to raise animal hide production to 48,000 tonnes by 2030, from about 6,000 tonnes currently. Authorities seek to secure reliable market outlets for livestock farmers through expanded processing. Moreover, Leather and More Company’s interest reflects Kigali’s broader push to create a business-friendly environment for industrial projects in the leather sector. Since 2023, the government has announced plans to build a dedicated leather industrial park on a 20-hectare site in Bugesera district, with a total cost of $15 million. In May, the Ministry of Trade and Industry said the government would allocate 8.47 billion Rwandan francs ($5.8 million) in the 2025/2026 fiscal budget to finance core infrastructure and attract private investors to the site. The extent to which Leather and More Company’s entry will accelerate industrial development in Rwanda’s leather value chain and strengthen its integration into regional and global markets now remains to be seen. This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle