A visiting team of investors from Turkey has expressed their wish to invest in tourism and agro-processing businesses in Kayonza District.

The team that visited the district on Tuesday was briefed on the existing investment opportunities in the district by local leaders, before they toured a number of projects.

According to Adem Sanliturk, the secretary general of the Rwanda Active Businessmen Association (RWABA), the initiative aimed to establish solid and strategic partnerships between Turkey and local private sector and leaders.

"We have encouraged Turkish businessmen and investors to explore possibilities of investments in the district.

We are working on plans for new investments and new investment areas,” he said, adding that Turkish investors would concentrate on efforts to promote tourism.

Sanliturk said the district identified business opportunities that would make sense to the Turkish businessmen, reiterating that agro-processing and tourism were the key areas.

He also said agro-processing would attract long term investment, adding that they needed to start up a demonstration farm.

"It is encouraging that we have agreed with local leaders and the members of Private Sector Federation (PSF) to sell us at least a hectare of coffee growing. We shall transform it to modern coffee growing and processing land with aim to educate thousands of farmers,” said Sanliturk.

"We shall then be assured of high quality coffee as we set up factories to process it…this will create the kind of sustainable raw material supply we need. It’s a long term investment that ranges from education to full industrialisation.”

Kayonza Mayor, John Mugabo, who led the Turkish businessmen on a tour around the district, said there were a number of areas they would invest in.

"The businessmen have agreed to invest in coffee processing and construction of a hotel. This hotel will be on one of the hills overseeing Akagera National Park. They also have interest in building a modern hospital in the district…these investments will be key to change people’s lives for better,” he said.

Mugabo said the district boasted of large chunks of land, waiting for exploitation.

"We have a number of unexploited resources; mining, agriculture, tourism, fishing, horticulture, etc are all open for exploitation. So, the Turkish investors, just like any other, are welcome. The principle is that the district offers them maximum support and cooperation.”

Steven Ntagungira, the chairman of PSF in the district emphasised the arrival of the foreign investors was timely.

"We expect to partner with the Turkish, to expand our horizons…they bring the most important factor of production which is capital. As local investors or farmers, we have land but lack capital enough to maximise production.

The Turkish will also come with highly skilled labour which will make us complete as modern farmers,” he said.

In 2014, some Rwandan businesspersons went to Turkey for the Turkey-World Trade Bridge.

The event, which took place in the Turkish city of Izmir, drew about 3,500 businesses from over 135 countries. It aimed at boosting trade relations between Turkey and participating countries.

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