The Made-in-Rwanda campaign is not an act of kindness that just calls for consumption of locally-made products, but a drive that encourages local people to make quality and affordable products, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Francois Kanimba, has said. 

"Made in Rwanda is not an act of kindness, it’s not a campaign that calls for people to buy our local products for the sake of pleasing us. It’s about developing individuals who produce quality products that ensure customers satisfaction, efficiency and functionality,” he said.

The minister was addressing 60 local entrepreneurs during the opening of the on-going three-day seminar on SMEs finance management organised by Business Professionals Network (BPN) in Kigali.

He explained that the campaign is targeting consumers and, ultimately, producers, especially small-and-medium enterprises, in terms of technology and innovation to boost production.

"SMEs are the drivers of the economy. So, the government is banking on the SME sector as the backbone of the economy to achieve sustainable development,” he told the entrepreneurs gathered at the BPN Business Academy. However, you should bear in mind that the Made-in-Rwanda campaign seeks to enhance quality, standards, and help enhance branding and packaging of locally-made products along the value chain, he added.

Kanimba observed that there are high expectations from the Made-in-Rwanda campaign in terms of mobilisation of the population to support local industries to spur economic growth and achievement of the Vision 2020 targets.

The minister also said that SMEs provide the economy with a ‘continuous supply’ of ideas, skills and innovation necessary to promote competition. The sector contributes over 40 per cent of the country’s GDP, more than 50 per cent of employment, and 70 per cent of manufactured outputs, he said.

However, statistics have shown that more than 50 per cent of all micro, small and medium enterprises close shop within the first five years of operation.

The minister attributed this to challenges, like lack of basic management skills, limited access to finance and markets, as well as low application of new technologies. Kanimba applauded BPN’s efforts towards supporting the business operators by equipping them with necessary entrepreneurship and managerial skills that could help propel their ventures and make them sustainable.

Meanwhile, Hans Wilhelm, the BPN executive director for operations, urged entrepreneurs to change their ‘laidback’ mentality to take Made-in-Rwanda to the next level.

"It all starts with an individual; an entrepreneur is that person who helps his country’s economy to advance. You don’t need to wait for any leader to come and show you how far you can go. The government can do a lot, but it can’t do everything,” he said.

Wilhelm, explained that Switzerland (his country of origin) was able to build its economy after citizens understood why it is essential for them to consume local products.

"Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in, but we didn’t achieve all we have overnight. Our people understand their contribution towards their nation, and then we created a platform and built their confidence,” he said.

Vianney Nzabandora, one of the participants, observed that personal commitment towards entrepreneurship always comes first, saying skills are part of the challenges most businesses face. SME operators are expected to have grasped the basics on how to manage finances, the value chain, business growth, and to detect threats to the enterprise, among others, at the training seminar that ends today.

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