For the first time, Rwanda will be part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) that is slated to run from November 14 to 20.

GEW, the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators, is held annually with the aim of motivating aspiring entrepreneurs and promoting entrepreneurship.

The activities held also connect participants to potential investors, mentors and business partners.

At national level, business personalities, students, and organisations from 25 districts in the country are expected to participate in various entrepreneurship-related activities, said Benjamin Cox, who is part of the GEW country organising team.

"Any activity, ideas, competitions…. by a participant or organisation, will be welcome for exchange of ideas - to the owners’ benefit,” he explained.

"These activities connect participants to job creators, potential investors, collaborators…., and help aspiring entrepreneurs or investors to realise their dreams.”

Though the country is participating for the first time, organisers want Rwanda to become the leading African participant, with the highest number of people and events recorded and best innovativeness displayed.

"We are working with a wide range of partners to achieve this vision, and already 13 events are being planned by the leading institutions such as PSF, Rwanda Development Board and BRD,” said Cox.

Brian Baingana, a young entrepreneur with a small ICT firm "I-Zones”, said that the rise in the number of entrepreneurship events and campaigns leads to an increase in innovativeness.

"Aspiring entrepreneurs, especially the youth should never underestimate such opportunities because they open our minds wider; we also develop networks.”

GEW was launched in 2008 by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and a manager with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Carl Schramm.

GEW has since expanded to 118 countries, engaging an average of 5.9 million people, annually. This year, at least 40,000 events are planned in 115 countries.

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