Speaking in a press conference yesterday, the Managing Director of Volkswagen in South Africa, Thomas Schafer said that they are ready to implement agreements that they signed with the Government of Rwanda back in December, 2016.
He said that the implementation will take place in three phases; the first was to introduce their company in Rwanda, which is ‘Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda’.
“We have a place where we can assemble 5000 cars per year. We expect different models like VW Polo, VW Passat and VW Teramont (SUV),” he said.
He said that they chose to invest in Rwanda as a country that is politically stable, don’t tolerate corruption, fast-growing economy, many youth and people willing to own cars.
He said they plan to provide jobs to 1000 people in the first phase after training about the company’s operations.
Schafer said that in the second phase, they will provide 150 cars that will be used by a community located in the same place.
“This system, people in the same community like a company or the ministry can book the car by using an application, use it and pay according to kilometers used,” he explained
The Rwanda Development Board (RDB)Chief Executive Officer, Clare Akamanzi said Volkswagen’s project is among government’s targets to spur investment in the country. She said, tangible changes have been earmarked in the past ten years.
“In 2007 our investment was $800 million but at the end of 2017 we had registered $1.675 billion and this indicates that we have doubled our investment in last ten years. But Volkswagen’s decision indicates new investment trend in Rwanda,” she explained.
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