Rwanda Development Board (RDB) last week recognized excellent performers, prosperous private enterprises and individual initiatives within the private sector, by awarding those that excelled in turning round their businesses in 2009.

The awards are aimed at encouraging the private sector to transform their businesses into competitive enterprises that contribute to socio-economic transformation of this country.

They are an important forum for the business community to network, exchange experiences and possibly seal new deals that eventually profit their businesses. 

The awards are a fraction of broader incentives that seek to motivate our private sector in delivering its mandate of being the cornerstone for economic growth, as clearly spelt out in vision 2020.

The stakes have been raised for Rwandan business community mainly due to favourable reforms introduced by government. For the past 16 years, government has disengaged from active business and instead concentrated on formulating policies and laws that facilitate growth of a vibrant private sector.

The idea behind this, is to create an environment where the private sector plays a critical role in shaping the future of the country.

Therefore, for the private sector to meet this challenge, it can’t be business as usual. The private sector needs to adopt a competitive and innovative approach, if we are to achieve this ambitious long-term vision .

The need to get down to real business becomes even more urgent given the competitive challenge posed by Rwanda’s full accession to the East African Community.

On its part, government has done a commendable job. It’s now up to the business community to take advantage of these reforms to expand their business operations.

Ends