The Government has launched a mobile phone application to help address business-related issues across the country.

The system was developed by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) together with Private Sector Federation (PSF) under the framework of the Rwanda Public Private Dialogue (PPD) mechanism with the support of the German Development Cooperation through GIZ Eco-Emploi Programme.

According to those behind the move, the aim of the application is to improve business advocacy efforts by providing an SMS platform where issues affecting the business environment are easily collected and tabled for dialogue between the Government and private sector.

Speaking during the launch of the SMS application in Kigali on Wednesday, Innocent Bajiji, the head of Investment Promotion and Facilitation at RDB said, the revolutionary platform will allow business communications to get faster, more efficient and completely free from geographical limitations.

Ellen Kallinowsky, the principal technical advisor at GIZ, noted that the system will positively impact in harmonising consensus building between government and the business community by building an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding towards larger business growth.

"As partners, we believe that this is quite an achievement because it will facilitate good dialogue between government and the private sector to enable decisions that create better environment for business growth,” she said.

What the new system means

According to Gerard Nkusi Mukubu, the chief advocacy officer at PSF, the new system will improve service delivery, reduce time wastage and ensure business sustainability.

"We’ve always been talking about easing service delivery in different sectors. I think this system is one of the solutions to such issues. In the wider context, we can also think of it as a tool that will reduce time wastage and improve access to information,” he said.

He added that, "Nowadays e-service is the right way to go and the SMS application is a user friendly solution for PPD’s framework because it adds value to the dialogue process.”

Cyprien Mutwarasibo, the vice mayor in charge of economic development in Huye District, said the SMS application will enhance dialogue among local leaders.

"The traditional system of conducting public-private dialogue was not effective because we would spend a lot of time mobilising people, which was not an easy thing. But now people are going to be enabled to give in their concerns and suggestions without necessarily spending time and money on travels,” he said.

PPD’s success

Since its inauguration, the Rwanda PPD has so far been able to find the common ground between business operators and government institution playing the role of the regulator. Those include the law interpreting the tax regime and clarification on patent conducted by government following a request by business operators.

The body has also been key in recent tax payment processing by communicating widely about compliance to the Electronic Billing Machine.

PPD also communicated widely to ensure that sanctions related non-compliance to tax payments were reduced, as well as successfully lobbying for left-hand drive tracks to be allowed in the Rwanda. editorial@newtimes.co.rw