Efforts by government and private sector to work together on major development projects could face hurdles because of the private sector’s capacity challenges, Antoine Manzi Rutayisire, the Private Sector Federation (PSF) director for advocacy, communications and labour relations, has said.

Rutayisire, also the PSF focal point for Northern Province, noted that while they encourage members to embrace public -private partnership, the private sector needs to work hard to play a meaningful role in the initiative.

He revealed that PSF has established a secretariat to handle issues to do with public-private partnerships, as well as discuss the opportunities and challenges members face.

He urged members to use the challenges as an inspiration to do more to contribute to the country’s development objectives.

Rutayisire was speaking after the elections of new PSF committee leaders for the Northern Province on Tuesday at Musanze District main hall.

Jean Damascene Munyenkusi from Musanze District was re-elected, the provincial president, while Gakenke District’s Opportunée Uwamaliya was elected the first vice-president. Jean Claude Shirimpumpu from Gicumbi District is the new second vice-president.

The new provincial leaders will represent PSF members in the area for next three years. The group’s sector and district leaders were also elected at the same event.

Speaking after the elections, Munyenkusi pledged to work with the committee and the business community to push forward the national development agenda.

"The private sector is the engine of national development, so we must work as a team to support the country’s efforts geared toward job-creation and poverty reduction,” said Munyenkusi.

He added that the committee will work hard to address challenges facing the business community in the province.

The private sector has been criticised for ignoring the agriculture industry, but Munyenkusi said they during his term in office, the committee will encourage members to invest in the agriculture industry.

"We will mobilise our members to invest in agriculture sector to improve productivity. We will also ensure that farmers access better markets,” he said.

PSF is scheduled to hold national elections on November 28.

Jean de Dieu Rutatika, the PSF national electoral commission chairman for Northern Province presided over the elections.

PSF was established in 1999 to promote the interests of the local business community.

jmbonyinshuti@newtimes.co.rw