A high-value-added partnership to modernize administration and stimulate growth. On May 8, 2025, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) officially announced the signing of a framework agreement with E7 Group, thus marking a decisive turning point in the country’s industrialization strategy. This partnership, announced on the official X account of the RDB, aims to establish a state-of-the-art production unit specializing in secure printing solutions, a key area for the digital transformation of the country’s administration.
The upcoming plant will be tasked with producing highly secure official documents such as identity cards, bank cards, passports, as well as educational material and environmentally friendly packaging solutions. In addition to improving the delivery of public services, this project will directly contribute to the creation of skilled jobs and the upskilling of the local workforce.
Based in Abu Dhabi, E7 Group is known for its expertise in strategic sectors such as identity management, publishing, logistics, and large-scale printing. Formerly known as United Printing and Publishing (UPP), the company was renamed E7 Group in 2024 following its merger with ADC Acquisition Corporation. This new identity reflects its regional ambition, symbolized by the number “7,” representing the unity of the United Arab Emirates.
As a subsidiary of ADQ, a sovereign fund established in 2018 to accelerate economic diversification in the region, E7 Group has an asset portfolio exceeding $645 million and generates a turnover of nearly $189 million. It operates in several high-value-added sectors, including secure printing, publishing, packaging, and integrated logistics solutions.
Rwanda strengthens its status as an industrial hub in East Africa
This partnership fully aligns with the national long-term vision defined in the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), which aims to increase exports to $7.3 billion and private investments to $4.6 billion. The establishment of an E7 Group plant therefore supports an industrial policy resolutely focused on innovation, technological empowerment, and regional competitiveness.
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Recent data published by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) reveals continued growth in industrial production, with a 5% increase recorded in March 2025. Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente, during a speech earlier this year, praised the remarkable progress of industrial activity, whose value rose from 591 billion to 1,680 billion Rwandan francs between 2017 and 2024.
Industrial parks, true pillars of this transformation, currently house 230 fully operational factories across the country, while 98 other units are under development. Industry has also had a significant impact on employment: the number of jobs in this sector rose from 180,000 in 2017 to 259,000 in 2024.
By attracting a major player such as E7 Group, Rwanda demonstrates not only its ability to attract foreign investors but also its determination to become a model of industrial development in sub-Saharan Africa. Through this collaboration, the country takes a new step in its ambition to build a knowledge-based, technology-driven, and innovation-led economy.
