Rwanda’s creative industry is set to receive a boost from Sweden under a new programme which seeks to see members of the industry from the two countries mutually benefit from each other.

A 14-member delegation from Rwanda recently returned from Stockholm after a week-long tour to share experiences and good practices with the Swedish counterparts.

The visit was in part aimed at preparing for an event in Kigali this September under the new programme Sweden@Rwanda which will bring together members of the creative industry from both countries, to plan the way forward.

The tour was organised by the Swedish Institute and the Embassy of Sweden in Kigali, under the theme of creativity and entrepreneurship.

Maria Håkansson, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Sweden noted that as major players in the creative industry, the Rwandan delegation was invited to Sweden to help shape the Sweden@Rwanda initiative.

"Sweden and Rwanda have a lot to learn from each other particularly on how the creative industries from both countries can benefit from one another,” Håkansson said, adding that this is one of the many areas the two countries are cooperating.

"The forum is in September and the processes that will lead up to it and what will happen after it are of great importance. From there, we will see how best our countries can support each other to advance the growth of the Rwandan creative industry,” she added.

In Sweden, the Rwandan delegation met with Swedish partners and visited relevant Swedish government institutions. The delegation included 10 members of Rwanda’s creative industry; a filmmaker, musicians, fashion designer, as well as corporations, representatives from educational institutions and journalists.

Rwanda’s Ambassador to Sweden Venantia Sebudandi encouraged members of the Rwandan creative industry to learn from Sweden’s vibrant creative sector.

"There is a lot we can pick from here. Rwanda and Sweden share a similar history as countries which started from scratch. Being where it is today, there is a lot we can learn from Sweden,” Sebudandi said.

During the tour ways in which Sweden and Rwanda could collectively develop support structures for entrepreneurs in the creative sector and what Rwanda’s budding sector can pick from the budding Swedish creative industry were discussed.

The creative industry in Rwanda has of recent grown in terms of the number of participating entrepreneurs as well as its contribution to the economy. In Kigali, there are creative collaboration spaces, such as Innovation Village and The Office as well as vibrant arts festivals such as the Rwanda Film Festival and the Kigali Up Music Festival, among others.

However, more incentives are needed to boost the creative industry to make it as lucrative as it should be.

The delegation had the opportunity to meet partners from a number of organizations, including the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, Stockholm School of Economics, co-working spaces, startups, among many other interesting places.

"There are things we have developed or managed to implement like improving or integrating the creative and culture industries, which Rwanda can learn from,” said Caroline Stiernstedt Sahlborn, the CEO Stiftelsen Ekskäret.

She highlighted several areas Rwanda can learn from Sweden to include and improve creative industry to generate employment, entrepreneurship and business development.

"Our export success within the fashion, design, music and gaming industries have helped us to get the creative industries on the top of the agenda,” she observed.

The members of Rwanda’s creative industry expressed their gratitude about the visit in Sweden and promised to implement the skills they gained from the tour.

Eric Kabera, the founder of Kwetu Film Institute, pointed out that the tour was ‘intense and useful’ and the Rwandan delegation picked many important lessons and skills which they can ‘hopefully put to good use back home’.

Mathew Rugamba, Founder of House of Tayo Fashion House, noted that "It was a fantastic, eye-opening experience”.

The Sweden@Rwanda is a co-creation programme for Swedish and Rwandan entrepreneurs in the creative industries. Through informal and interactive discussions, work laboratories and a cross-disciplinary approach, the Sweden@Rwanda forum will highlight innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship as a driver for sustainable development.

It will also focus on the possibilities in Rwanda and Sweden rather than the difficulties, the aim being to create something greater by using each other’s resources and expertise.

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