The financing, worth more than 26.6 billion Rwandan francs, comes from the Africa Go Green Fund (ACG) and will support the construction of cold rooms in the Kigali Special Economic Zone in Masoro, Gasabo district.
The funding is intended to go beyond storing agricultural and livestock products. Part of it will provide additional capital for cooling solutions within the industrial zone.
The new facility is expected to start with room for 4,000 pallets, with plans to eventually increase capacity to 8,000 pallets.
The money will be channelled through Cold Solutions Rwanda, a company that provides cooling technology and storage solutions and is part of the ARCH Cold Chain Solutions East Africa Fund.
Keeping food fresh from farm to market
The investment comes as Rwanda’s agricultural production and food-processing industries continue to grow, putting greater pressure on the country’s limited cold-chain infrastructure.
For farmers and food businesses dealing with products that can quickly spoil, the lack of reliable cooling and refrigerated transport can mean valuable produce is lost before it reaches the market.
Cold-storage facilities and refrigerated vehicles remain limited in Rwanda, contributing to food losses and shortening the shelf life of temperature-sensitive products.
Cold Solutions Rwanda is expected to build a facility that combines storage and packaging, allowing perishable goods to be cooled, stored and prepared before reaching consumers.
“Securing the loan for Cold Solutions Rwanda from ACG is another important milestone in the development of modern infrastructure in the country,” said Suki Muia, investment director at the ARCH Cold Chain Solutions East Africa Fund.
Africa Equity News reported that a cold-storage and packaging facility is already operating in Kigali’s industrial zone. It is used to process avocados and give farmers access to storage facilities suited to export markets.
Muia said the use of modern cooling technology would help farmers, livestock producers and food processors preserve their products for longer, strengthening the supply chain from farms to markets.
Climate investment meets food security
ACG Chief Executive Officer Laurène Aigrain said the investment was part of the fund’s efforts to support infrastructure that can address economic challenges while also providing climate-focused solutions.
She said the project was particularly important because it brings together economic development and resilience, adding that climate-focused investment can strengthen the private sector, improve food supply chains and contribute to a more self-reliant economy.
Rwanda has been increasing its focus on agricultural development, climate resilience and adding value to food products.
The expansion of cold-chain infrastructure is expected to help those efforts by reducing post-harvest losses and giving farmers and food processors more reliable ways to protect perishable products between the farm and the consumer.
