Business round-up

Rwandair planning six new routes Rwandair Express is planning to open up new routes in Dar es Salaam, Addis Abbaba, Mwanza, Lusaka and Kinshasa next year. The management of the government owned carrier made the revelations during a business dinner with the company’s travel partners from South Africa last week. They said the move is geared to increase demand from the clients as more people are opting for air transport and that it is also part of the airline’s plans of increasing its services to meet customer expectations. The inclusion of the new routes will put Rwandair’s destinations to a total of fourteen in a period of six years since its inauguration in December 2002. Currently, Rwandair’s routes are from Kigali to Nairobi, Kilimanjaro, Entebbe, Bujumbura and Johannesburg. Within Rwanda, it operates a direct flight from Kigali to Kamembe, but Nangawe said they will open the Gisenyi destination next month. In the same development, Rwandair is undergoing an aggressive and ambitious fleet acquisition that will help serve the new destinations. IFC to invest in local mining industry The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group is set to invest in Rwanda’s mining industry. According to Ignance Bacyaha, IFC’s Senior Operations Manager, IFC this year conducted a study on the mining industry in Rwanda, which revealed needs for investment and advisory services in the sector. The corporation fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing capital in the international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments. It helps companies and financial institutions in emerging markets to create jobs, generate tax revenues, improve corporate governance and environmental performance, and contribute to their local communities. Bacyaha said, “Over the next months our colleagues will visit Rwanda to explore further opportunities for investment and subsequent linkages programmes.” He was speaking during the celebration of the ‘International Mining Day’ at the Kigali Serena Hotel on Tuesday. The celebration was organised under the theme “strengthening the mining sector for economic growth and job creation”. Nakumatt scoops global award Nakumatt Holdings, a leading supermarket chain in Kenya has been honoured as one of the Most Innovative New concepts in the world, coming second behind global retail giant Wal-Mart in the prestigious Planet Retail Innovation Awards 2008 ranking. Planet Retail is the leading provider of global retailing information, from news and analysis to market research and digital media and covers more than 7,000 retail and food service operations across 140 markets around the world. Nakumatt picked the runners up slot in the Most Innovative New Concepts - Supermarkets/Neighbourhood Store category for its regional expansion strategy showcased by the opening of Nakumatt City Centre in Kigali Rwanda. In a communiqué confirming Nakumatt’s triumph, Planet Retail’s Global Macroeconomics Manager Boris Planner, last week described Nakumatt as a pioneer in modern retailing across East Africa’s otherwise highly traditional food sector. Administrators trained on tourism The chamber of tourism, Private Sector Federation (PSF), partnering with the National Office of Tourism and Parks (ORTPN) trained tourism administrators. Flavia Mitali, the Director chamber of tourism in PSF explained that this was aimed at equipping participants with knowledge for training other tourism members across the country. The modules that are being taught in three phases include, Front Office Management, Guest Relation and Tour Management. The five-day training was held this week at Hotel Des Mille Collines Kigali. It’s conducted by Guillermo Ribes Vicente, a consultant from ‘Compass Consult’ of Cologne business school in Germany. Riepa rewards investors, exporters The Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (Riepa) which was recently merged with other agencies to form the Rwanda Development Agency (RDA) rewarded 14 local importers and exporters at Kigali Serena hotel. This is intended to recognise the private sector’s role towards Rwanda’s economic development. Private sector development is identified as a strategic pillar that can alleviate poverty and turn Rwanda into a middle income economy by 2020. The ceremony was dubbed ‘The Investor Award Gala Dinner’. Francis Gatare, RDB’s Principal Deputy Chief Executive Officer, said that the 14 finalists were part of the 170 companies that received questionnaires from Riepa before pre-selections. There were 130 firms that participated. The pre-selections were done by auditing firm, Deloitte and Touche. After the shortlist, the judging panel was joined by persons from the regional private and public sectors with international business experience. The winners were awarded trophies and a token of appreciation, but Gatare said that above all, they will act as representatives of other investors and exporters in Rwanda. Ends