It is better to try and fail than never to have tried at all, goes an old adage. But for Jean Baptiste Hategekimana, a resident of Mubona sector, Rubavu District in Western Province,  his efforts paid off after trying his hand at various businesses.Hategekimana says he started off as a cross-border trader, importing shoes from the DR Congo in 2004. Later, he switched to selling clothes after the cross-border shoe business became a nightmare, thanks to high taxes and bureaucracy at customs posts. "That business was stressing and yet not profitable. Import duties, bureaucracy at the borders turned what used to be lucrative business into a nightmare. I was paying more money in taxes than I was making, so I decided to quit,” he says.He says he started working from home, which helped him save some money and start up a welding enterprise. "I decided to join the welding business because I knew there was ready market for my products,” he notes.He says people were switching from using timber to fabricated metal doors and windows. "I had to take advantage of this and establish myself in the market,” Hategekimana notes.Luckily for him, he had acquired the required skills as a teenager from his uncle, who was a metal welder."It was not easy at the beginning, given the fact that I had limited skills, but I knew I could make it in welding than in any other enterprise,” he asserts. In fact that has come to pass as Hategekimana, who started with just Rwf200,000 now  earns over Rwf4m a month. He adds that his workshop is now also a training centre for vocational students on internship. It also caters for students from Iwawa Rehabilitation and Vocational Skills Development Centre." It’s always important to make your business community-centred. I am always pleased to see students benefiting from this enterprise,” he says.  Hategekimana says he was able to grow the project because of the trust from the community and financial institutions, as well as financial discipline."I acquired a Rwf1m loan from a micro-finance institution in Rubavu, which I used to expand the enterprise. This greatly boosted my capacity to take in more interns and also enhance my earnings.  "I try to inspire the students and give them the skills that will enable them to open up their own businesses when they leave school in the future,” Hategekimana says. Hategekimana has so far expanded the enterprise to neighbouring Musanze and Burera districts.Challenges Hategekimana says the business faces two major challenges; high costs of electricity and raw materials.He says all inputs, apart from labour, are imported, which is very expensive.He adds that lack of right skills is a threat to the survival of the business.  What drives success in welding business Hategekimana says one has to be committed, network to create new market linkages and make business associates in specific areas to be assured market. New innovations are also key to stay on top in this business."But also you need to understand  tastes and preferences from your customers as they keep changing all the time. So, you have to be prepared to change with the business environment,” the father of two  advises.What others say about him Steven Harelimana, an intern student  Hategekimana is always looking for a way of winning more customers. He also believes in self-reliance and that’s why he is nurturing us to be innovative and start our own businesses.

Editor's note

We are profiling young people who have conquered fear and ventured into the business world. Today, we bring you Jean Baptiste Hategekimana, a welder in Rubavu District, who defied the odds to make it in the competitive border business. Nominate enterprising youth today by sending email to: business@newtimes.co.rw