KIGALI - AS part of Kigali’s centenary celebrations, the city has okayed the business community to operate twenty-four hours.

Kigali City Council (KCC) authorities say they aim at promoting hard work among members of the Rwandan business community in order to compete favourably with their contemporaries in the other East African Community (EAC) countries.

"Now that we are part of bodies like the East African Community and COMESA, we should be as hard working as they are. This culture will attract more investors to our country,” Commerce Minister, Protais Mitali, told traders on Friday while presiding over the launching ceremony at Commercial Street, Nyarugenge District.

Mitali advised business community to promote cleanliness and refrain from cheating their clients by selling to them expired goods and counterfeit products.

Speaking on behalf of the traders, Laurent Mwenzangu called on the business community to embrace the new trade policy, adding that it would enable them make their businesses more lucrative.

"The beginning may seem to be hard but we should gain courage and trust in order to register success in the future. Why should we go to bed and leave money behind?” he asked.

Kigali City Mayor Dr Aisa Kirabo Kacyira urged the traders to work with security organs in order to keep the city safe from unscrupulous people. She said that installing lights in the Commercial Street had cost Frw18 million and appealed to the traders to take full responsibility of maintaining them.

The function was also attended by Finance and Economic Planning Minister James Musoni and Nyarugenge district mayor, Origene Rutayisire.
Ends