On August 13th, the Embassy of Israel in Rwanda, in partnership with Bank of Kigali (BK), hosted the inaugural roundtable in a series dedicated to the development of Rwanda's dairy industry. This initiative represents a significant effort to forge strategic partnerships between Rwandan and Israeli leaders in agri-business, fostering collaboration and innovation.
The event brought together representatives from several Israeli firms, including Galil Engineering Group, Afimilk, Ambar, YanyTech, and Conceptpharma. These companies showcased cutting-edge solutions and technologies aimed at improving the efficiency and productivity of Rwanda's dairy sector.
Nimrod Weiss, co-CEO of Galil Engineering Group—a prominent Israeli engineering and construction firm with interests in agro-industry, energy, and defense—highlighted their longstanding collaboration with Bank of Kigali. He announced a forthcoming $280 million project to convert methane gas from Lake Kivu into compressed natural gas, intended for use in power plants, cement factories, defense sectors, and private enterprises.
Weiss also discussed an international project involving a large-scale dairy farm, noting its impressive scale with 30,000 milking cows and facilities spanning one million square meters, constructed with 25,000 tonnes of steel.
Raanan Dahari, Director Manager of Afimilk, emphasized the critical role of cow welfare and effective farm management in boosting farm productivity. He introduced their advanced dairy farm management system, which can accommodate various farm sizes. Dahari explained that farms can begin with basic equipment, such as cow monitoring systems that track behavior and health indicators, and gradually expand their capabilities with additional tools like milk meters and tags.
Yossi Gagamo, Deputy Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda, underscored the importance of optimizing milk production, a key challenge in the industry. He highlighted Israel's success in this area, attributing it to innovative solutions from several Israeli companies. The goal of the roundtable was to share these advancements with Rwandan stakeholders to enhance the efficiency and quality of milk production in Rwanda.
Levi Gasangwa, Chief Business and Corporate Solutions Officer at Bank of Kigali Plc, reiterated the bank's commitment to strengthening ties with Israeli firms, recognizing their potential to significantly boost productivity. He pointed out the bank's focus on scaling up agribusinesses, particularly within the dairy sector, which holds considerable export potential.
Gasangwa also referenced the recent launch of the Inyange powder dairy plant, with 80% of its production aimed at the export market. He emphasized the importance of technology in monitoring cow health and guiding informed decision-making, citing partnerships with Israeli companies and Inyange to ensure best practices across the value chain.
“One of our primary objectives is to support the growth of agribusinesses,” Gasangwa stated. He noted that despite challenges such as limited land and difficult climates, technological innovations, especially in agrotech, are driving business advancement.
Gasangwa concluded by emphasizing the bank's dedication to creating tailored financial products for the dairy value chain, ensuring that they meet the specific needs of industry experts. He also highlighted the significance of providing appropriately priced loans and guiding businesses towards sustainable growth.