KIGALI - The two-day Rwanda Investment Forum ended yesterday on a high note with a number of international investors expressing keen interest to come and invest in Rwanda. Over 110 foreign investors from 25 countries attended the high level forum.

Rwanda presented over 35 projects worth over $5bn in investment in various sectors including ICT, Agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing construction and real estate and a number of investors are already showing interest.

Addressing the press at the end of the forum, the CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), John Gara, noted that on top of investors who unveiled their long term investment plans, a number of them will stay around to register with his agency.

"We have two outcomes, and to an extent it is what we had hoped for: The first outcome was for us to showcase what we have---to showcase that we have an excellent investment climate and that we do business well,”

"We now know that people believe in us and we get to hear positive comments as we read in the communiqué which was issued after the forum. People are now going to be our ambassadors out there,” Gara said.

He added that there are specific potential deals that investors have already taken up, and donors agreeing to finance several projects under the Public Private Partnerships.

African Development Bank pledged financial support to government programmes aimed at promoting investment.
A South African construction firm, MKP South Africa, through it mother company MKP Capital Investment, pledged a grant of $6bn to the Rwanda government to which the two countries will enter a long term infrastructure development deal.

Two other real estate firms: Mara Group, and an American Construction firm, Lodestar CBC, also showcased their long term real estate development plans. The former revealed its project named Casa Umusozi while the latter showcased the project Bye Bye Nyakatsi it is implementing with the Rwandan Diaspora.

In the agro processing industries, several investors from Asia, Europe and USA, expressed keen interest to invest in the country, particularly marketing its high quality tea and coffee. Among those with interest include Clinton Hunter Foundation, the Madhivani Group as well as Bakhresa.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Commerce and Trade Minister, Monique Nsanzabaganwa, assured investors of the government’s support.

"The Government of Rwanda can always give you assurance on securing land, registering your businesses and all other necessary requirements available for investment to take place”.

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