The Director General of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), Ivan Murenzi on Tuesday, December 17 shared some uplifting news. According to NISR data, Rwanda’s economy grew by 8.1% in the third quarter of 2024.
This remarkable growth is not an anomaly—earlier this year, the economy expanded by 9.8% in Q2 and 9.7% in Q1.
The total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Quarter 3 was valued at Rwf 4.8 trillion (approximately USD 3.4 billion), representing an increase of Rwf 560 billion compared to the same period last year. These figures are not just impressive; they position Rwanda as one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa—and indeed, the world.
However, economic growth is about more than just numbers. It’s about how citizens feel about the direction their country is headed. After all, growth is meaningless if people look around and see no tangible improvements in their lives. By this measure, I wholeheartedly agree with NISR’s findings: the statistics are not only promising; they reflect visible progress in our day-to-day lives.
I was personally honored to witness this growth in action at two events last week: the FIA Cocktail hosted by the Government of Rwanda at the Kigali Convention Center on Thursday, and the FIA Awards ceremony at BK Arena on Friday.
At the cocktail event, I was struck by the talent emerging from Rwanda’s technical colleges. Students from IPRC Kigali showcased the "Cross Car”, a racing car built entirely by them.
This was a proud moment for me because it demonstrated that our education system, often criticized, is capable of producing incredible talent and innovation.
However, it was the FIA Awards gala on Friday that truly underscored Rwanda’s capabilities when given the platform to shine.
The event was executed flawlessly. From impeccable coordination to world-class entertainment and stunning venue design, it was a masterclass in event planning. Sitting in the same audience as international stars like Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) and watching F1 champion Max Verstappen lift his trophy, I couldn’t help but feel immense pride.
Pride in the Rwanda Automobile Club (led by Christian Gakwaya) for delivering a historic event. Pride in the dedicated civil servants at RDB, RCB, the Ministry of Sports, and the broader government team who made it possible.
Pride in Dolph Banza, the creative genius behind some of the most breathtaking visuals I’ve ever seen. Pride in Boukuru, whose soulful rendition of "Genda Rwanda Uri Nziza” touched every heart in the room.
I was also proud of Queen Kalimpinya, Rwanda’s eloquent and passionate female rally driver, who spoke about her love for motorsport and her country.
Makeda Mahadeo, the co-host, was phenomenal—she absolutely knocked it out of the park. And our National Ballet, Urukerereza, once again stole the show, leaving us all spellbound.
This event showcased the very best of Rwanda—our talent, our infrastructure, and our ambition. We showed the world not only who we are but who we aspire to become.
As I sat in the audience, absorbing every moment, I left with a renewed sense of purpose: to work even harder so that my children grow up in a country that lives up to the immense potential we demonstrated that night.
This brings me back to NISR’s GDP figures. While they are impressive, Rwanda’s story is not about statistics alone. It’s about real changes—improvements in people’s lives and aspirations that are unfolding every day. The evidence is all around us: innovation in education, excellence in hosting global events, and growing opportunities for our youth.
Our development is real, our growth is no fluke, and the sky is truly the limit.
The author is a socio-political commentator