Business picks up at expo

Last weekend, Rwandans as well as businesspeople from outside thronged Gikondo expo grounds to have a glance at the products and services being exhibited. Phillip Cheruiyot, the Sales and Marketing Manager of Skenia Motors Ltd, said because the company is new in the Rwandan market, the expo has given it a great chance to exhibit Scania buses and trucks. Keen Business Solutions, a Kenyan company is another exhibitor that attracted many show goers to buy kitchenware; fruits and vegetable slicers as the company’s stocks reduced. The marketing team of Star Africa Media, a new entrant in the EXPO said they were overwhelmed by the many customers inquiring about their product. Akagera Aviation, a company exhibiting helicopter services was another that attracted many visitors. Investment officials make courtesy visit to investorsThe state minister for industry and investment promotion, Vincent Karega, and Claire Akamanzi, the deputy director of Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (Riepa), both investment promotion officials made courtesy visits to investors in the education, tourism, real estate and food processing sectors. It was part of the periodical tours meant to evaluate and monitor investments in the country. According to Akamanzi, the visit was aimed at sharing views with investors and giving them advice on their investments. She explained that such visits make investors feel comfortable to operate in a friendly environment. He promised that the investment promotion agency will continue to monitor investments and work hand-in-hand with investors as it will consequently position Rwanda as a good and conducive investment country in the region. The team visited Riviera High School, Bambino Super City, DN International and Inyange Dairy plant. RBS borrows skills from EAC countries Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) is seeking expertise from other East African Community (EAC) countries, as it implements tougher measures against cheating weighing scales. RBS is the body responsible for regulating and controlling standards, quality assurance and metrology in the country. Following complaints from consumers that some traders cheat by giving under weights, only approved and verified weighing scales are to be used. Patrice Ntiyamira, the Director of Meteorology Services at RBS, said he was consulting from Uganda, about their standardisation measures on weighing scales. While also talking to different experts, the business community and other stakeholders to learn more on how they handled the crackdown on cheating weighing scales, he will visit the Kenya and Tanzania bureau of standards after Uganda. Upon return, RBS will continue with a nationwide inspection of weighing scales exercise for five to eight months, following a mini survey by RBS in major markets that traders were using adjustable weighing machines. This follows RBS’ inspection of fuel dispensers in Kigali, where 30 per cent of them were found with defaults; giving less or much fuel. The bureau has also drafted a Weight and Measures Act, which will soon be sent to the Prime Minister’s office for approval. RBS is also building laboratories that will be designed to regulate particular measures of various commodities ranging from cement, sugar, water meters, cash power and radio frequency. Ends