The Horizon group of companies is set to exhibit their infrastructural proficiency by highlighting and showcasing achievements in a Trade Fair Expo at Gikondo.
The group CEO Eugene Haguma told Igihe.com that Horizon group wants to improve the country’s infrastructure by constructing more paved roads and at the same time promote the agriculture sector through pyrethrum planting.
Haguma said Horizon the consortium of three subsidiary companies- Construction, Logistics and SOPYRWA will put emphasis on the growth of pyrethrum that will be turned into pesticides by SOPYRWA.
“So far pyrethrum flowers have increased four folds from 209 metric tons two years ago to 700 metric tons in 2010-2011 seasons,” He revealed.
The company’s consultant Franco Kanimba noted that Rwanda is among the top three countries with the special type of pyrethrum from Tanzania and Australia.
Kanimba disclosed that dryers have been built for farmers and SOPYRWA has created a fund to help farmers acquire loans through Umurenge SACCO and direct loans to farmers in order to acquire basic needs like mattresses, iron sheets and medical insurance also known as mutuelle de santé .
“We have also distributed 240 tons of organic fertilizer free of charge to farmers,” he boasted.
The Horizon Construction Company on its part wants to improve infrastructure in the country and provide better housing facilities.
According to Haguma, the company has reduced construction fees and now the price per kilometer was brought down from US$ 1million to US$ 0.6millon.
He further noted that in the past one year the company has achieved a lot including 16.5 Km of paved roads in the city and several buildings were constructed, the Kigali Public Library and Rubavu border post among others.
“We have the capacity to do more- this was the first local company to construct an Asphalt concrete road in the country,” he said adding: “Once you do quality work, be rest assured you can compete even with the giants like china who seem to be taking over the African market.”
In order to improve its capacity, the company has been working with commercial banks that have invested US$ 5Million in new machines and trucks out of which 70% has been credits from local banks like ZIGAMA CSS and BCR while 30% has been financed from company cash flows.
In terms of promoting descent houses in the country, Horizon Construction Company has set aside 30 hectares of land that will be used for a pilot project to construct low cost housing that will later be availed to eligible resident’s thorough mortgages.
He said current smooth partnership with banks is expected to facilitate the process.
The Horizon Logistics also focuses on supporting Rwandan peace-keeping forces in Sudan’s Darfur region. “We are in charge of maintenance of vehicles and some requirements to the soldiers in peace keeping mission,” Haguma said.
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