Editor,

This is in reference to the article that appeared in yesterday’s issue of The NewTimes - "Doing Business in Africa’ summit opens in Kigali”. Just like the World Bank Country Director, Johannes Zutt said, African countries can learn a lot from Rwanda’s rapid business transformation to improve the business climate and attract investments in their countries.

What African countries need to do is set targets and fulfill them.

In 2008, Rwanda was ranked poorly in the doing business report by the World Bank. I remember reading in your newspaper that a doing business team was in Rwanda to conduct a workshop about how Rwanda can improve its business climate.

Soon, initiatives were put in place. One stop centers were set up and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) introduced new measures that enabled business people to register their companies in 24 hours. The following year, Rwanda emerged top reformer in the doing business ranking.

Like Rwanda, the rest of Africa has to realize that making business easier is important in today’s globalised world.  Unnecessary requirements, tedious procedures, inefficient operations and inadequate infrastructure, all lead to extra cost of development and stifle smooth business operations.

Linda Mujawamariya
Gisenyi