Rwanda needs to lay emphasis on production, not consumption

Editor, THE ARTICLE, “Rwanda top African destination for retailers” (The New Times, March 17) led me to think about the future of the Rwandan economy. The reforms in business that Rwanda has been praised for seem to be enough and now it’s time to change the chapter. There’s need to attract investors to set up manufacturing plants and industries to boost exports as a compensatory mechanism for a small domestic market. Being good consumers of what other countries produce means that we are contributing to the expansion of their factories and securing their jobs. We can celebrate Rwanda’s performance as indicated in the 2014 African Retail Development Index, but let it not distract us from coming up with strategies to boost exports and find top destinations for Rwanda’s products and services. While it is true that ours is a small landlocked country, Rwandans, through hard work and homegrown solutions, have achieved a lot. Rwanda’s Government has made lots of achievements, all from scratch. In the EDPRS2, Rwanda set a target of 28 per cent export growth p.a. by 2017. This is commendable; so let’s strategise on how best we can achieve that target. In few years to come, we need to see reports that scream, “Rwanda top African exporter of goods, services”. Maureen Twahirwa,Head of Communication & Marketing Private Sector Federation, Rwanda *********************** RWANDA SHOULD be a top African destination for producers/ manufacturers. Not the other way round. Being consumers of what other countries produce means that you are creating jobs overseas for other people; not for yourselves. Eddy Chico, Baltimore United States *********************** WE SHOULD watch out and act accordingly. To keep consuming imports from around the world without ourselves producing and exporting, is the direct way to perpetual dependence. This does not only concern Rwanda but many countries around the world, we are living under a serious menace of greedy multinationals. François-Xavier Nziyonsenga,Rwanda

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Rwanda needs to lay emphasis on production, not consumption