A business delegation comprising about 20 persons from the UK is in the country to showcase their products and services to local businesses and potential agents and distributors. They will also hold talks with industry experts in the country. Welcoming the delegation at his residence in Kacyiru, William Gelling, the British high commissioner, said their main sectors of interest are education, solar energy, agriculture, social housing, construction, scientific instruments and mining. The investors said they believe that Rwanda is a market on the rise with huge potential. The mission is aiming at offering consumers with an opportunity to explore and understand the current opportunities for their products or services. Gelling described Rwanda’s economy as attractive as one of the reasons why the UK businesses picked interest in it. He expressed optimism that the business leaders will do well in Rwanda. “They are so positive about what they have already seen in Rwanda. Their products are of high quality,” Gelling said. This is UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) London’s first visit to Rwanda. The mission’s visit to Tanzania and Rwanda was organised by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the capital’s largest independent networking and business support organisation. UKTI is a department that helps UK companies succeed in the global economy, as well as help overseas companies to venture into the UK’s economy. Subhash V Thakrar, the deputy president 0f London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, believes it will be a successful mission. “I believe this will be a successful mission. Rwanda is a stable country and it is making big economic progress, it has a clean government, clean city... and we will see greater things to come,” Thakrar, who is heading the delegation, said. Divyesh Thakkar, the director of India Impex UK Limited, a firm that has already made a deal with a local sector firm to supply solar equipment in rural areas, said Rwanda is not landlocked, but rather land-linked and would provide them opportunity to reach neighbouring country markets. Nemish Mehta, the director of Prem Nem Limited, a company that makes Airboss puncture proof tyres, said they are not in the country to make sales alone but also to help people in terms of providing them with quality goods and services. “There is good prospect. But we have to be patient. It won’t happen overnight but we have lots of positives,” he said. editorial@newtimec.co.rw
