“We saw a boom in 2016. The momentum is going to continue even this year,” said Adeline Kajangwe, the industrial development analyst at RDB.

 

“Some big projects have kicked off well. For example, groundbreaking at the Bugesera airport project has been done. Others are in the pipeline,” he noted.

 

Mr Kajangwe added that there is still demand for retail space while more projects are coming up.

 

Although the demand and supply sides are yet to be reconciled, the increasing capital spending by the private sector and government has thrust the sector into a position of driving economic development.

 

According to RDB, construction spending in 2015 was $546 million, growing at 10 per cent, while real estate spending was $471 million, growing at 7 per cent.

 

The construction industry contributes more than seven per cent to the national GDP. Private and public works were growing at 9.4 per cent starting 2014.

 

“The outlook for 2017 is good. Some actors are playing their roles well. How prepared we are to position ourselves to take up the opportunities is what will make the difference,” said Charles Lwanga, the managing director of NPD.

 

The free entry and exit nature of the sector has enabled many foreign firms to enter the construction market. Firms from China, Turkey and other places are winning big tenders, a dynamic which has had an impact on local players, and driven the sector gains.

 

A Turkish firm won a tender to build the Kigali Convention Centre, while Chinese and European firms are behind many big projects.

 

Although the outlook seems positive, there are some gaps to be plugged. For instance, much as space supply side seems to be growing, the demand seems to be an issue. Many of the developers acquired expensive loans to construct but factors like oversupply of space and low occupancy, especially in the CBD has raised fears that they might fail to repay the loans.

 

Over 30,000 square metres of space is yet to be occupied in various city buildings.

 

The City of Kigali recently gave an ultimatum to all businesses and organisations working in residential houses to relocate into commercial and office complexes built in the city by March or they will be evicted, a move that has been largely seen to be intended to protect developers.

Source : www.theeastafrican.co.ke/