Business round-up

Ocir-café targets 28,000 tonnes of coffee this year Rwanda’s Coffee Development Authority (Ocir-café) is targeting to produce about 28,000 tonnes of coffee this year for export to Europe, the US and Asia. According to the Ocir-café Director General, Alex Kanyankole, these tonnes will generate about USD 60 million (Rwf32.8 billion) of foreign exchange earnings. This represents a 27 percentage increase from last year’s production and a 30.4 percentage increase in revenues. Last year, 22,000 tonnes of coffee were produced and the industry generated USD 46m (Rwf25.9 billion) of earnings. With the projected production and revenues, Ocir-café has come-up with strategies aimed at meeting the targets. Some strategies are geared towards value addition, production increase and others towards marketing the coffee. About 10,000 tonnes of fertilisers will be distributed to farmers to increase their coffee trees productivity, and 55,000 litres of pesticides to fight pests that affect productivity. Ocir- café is planning to set-up a coffee roasting plant that will handle about 2000 tonnes of coffee as part of the value addition strategies, which also determine coffee profitability. With the expected increase in production, Ocir-café will continue with promotion efforts such as the East Africa Fine Coffee Conference and Exhibition (EAFCE). Other promotional and marketing packages include seeking for new markets and participation in international coffee trade fairs. Tilia Games plans USD 25 Million investments in five years Tilia Games, the operator of the national lottery and casino are planning to invest about USD 25m (Rwf14.1b) in Lotto Rwanda operations for the next five years. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Johannes Lind said that part of these investments will be in software development, equipment, machinery, human resource and expansion of operations in the gaming industry. Lotto Rwanda is a joint venture between government and the private sector licensed to run Rwanda’s national lottery, casino and fun games. The company contracted Tilia Games, a full entertainment solutions provider and leading pan-African lottery project to operate under its licence. Tilia Games made an initial investment of USD 3.5m in the national lottery with operating cost of USD 500,000 monthly and about USD 1.6m (Rwf899m) in the casino. About 566 slot machines are expected this week for some of the 50 planned casino outlets. The National Lottery was launched in mid-December last year under the support of GSI, a gaming company reported to have launched 20 lotteries in the USA, Europe, and South Africa. This is now its 21st CMAC bids farewell to Plantenga The Rwanda Capital Market Advisory Council (CMAC), an institution responsible for the development of capital markets in the country, held a farewell party for Door Plantega, who has been one of its board members. Plantega who has also been the Managing Director of Rwanda’s sole brewing company and beverage manufacturer Bralirwa S.A was transferred to central Europe by Heineken, one of Europe’s biggest breweries. According to CMAC board members, ‘Plantega brought a lot of ideas from different sectors, from her exposure and also asked her to continue being our ambassador. Plantenga has been a board member since CMAC inception in January last year. Presently, the capital market regulatory body has managed to raise nearly Rwf.15Billion on the primary market and more than Rwf.600Million from the secondary market. It was said that Plantenga’s departure is a blow to the council though also an opportunity for her to become an ambassador who will direct many investors on to the Rwandan bourse. Mining industry generated USD 93 million in 2008 Rwanda’s mining industry generated USD 93 million (Rwf52.3 billion) in 2008 according to information from the Ministry of Natural Resources. The figure represents an increase of 31 percent from the USD 71 million (Rwf40 billion) earned in 2007. The 2008 revenues also surpassed government projections of USD 81 million (Rwf753 million) by USD 12 million (Rwf6.8 billion)—an increase of 15 percent meaning the industry was only beaten by tourism with USD 214 million revenues last year. The steady growth of the sectors earnings according to Vincent Karega, State Minister of Environment and Mining, is due to the liberalisation of the economy by government, which is attractive. In Vision 2020, government also identified mining as a priority sector that can diversify the country’s exports. Karega also attributed the growth of revenues to the institution of a clear policy and a new law that protects investors in the sector allowing long-term leasing. Rwanda mineral earnings are derived mostly from cassiterite, coltan, wolfram, and gold. These key minerals also fetched USD 70.6 million (Rwf93.4 billion) in 2007, representing 40 percent of the total national exports revenues while contributing about 10 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Without providing statistics, Karega disclosed that Cassiterite, a tin oxide mineral (SnO2) still dominated the industry with more revenues. The mineral beat other Rwanda’s key and highly valued minerals such as Wolfram (FeMnWO3), Coltan and Gold (Au). MTN changes subscribers’ number structure MTN Rwanda has announced an imminent ‘Number Plan Change’, from the current 8 digit number to a new 10 digit number as required by national and international telecommunication regulators. The Chief Operations Officer (COO), Andrew Rugege, explained that the change is a requirement set off by Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA). It will be effective on the first day of February. This means that a new number – 78 – will be added after the first usual zero, to all numbers on MTN Rwanda’s network resulting into a new ten digit number rather than the current eight digits. He said that it is a RURA initiative expected to cater for the growing customers for the telecommunications sector and to align the Rwandan numbering and code structures within the region. In illustration, a number with digits like 08312345 would become 0788312345 and, likewise, all other numbers on the network would change accordingly. The number 03123456 would eventually become 0783123456. International dialling codes will also change. Calling a local number like +250 08312345 will change to +250 788312345 and the SMS message centre will change from the current +250 08110333 to +250 788110333. In addition, MTN customers will dial 000 instead of the current 00 when calling a number outside Rwanda. Meanwhile, MTN-Rwanda expects to attract one million subscribers by the end of 2009 to add its already existing one million. Rwanda to host 2009 Commonwealth e-Govt forum Rwanda will this year host the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO) e-Government forum. According to information from the CTO office in London, Rwanda will be hosting the 3rd Annual African e-government forum in the country’s capital Kigali, attracting key Information Communication Technology stakeholders in the region. The forum is scheduled to take place from March 24 to 26 and is viewed as an opportunity for ICT stakeholders to voice views, insights, knowledge and share experiences at Africa’s leading e-government conference. E-Government is the use by government agencies of information technologies, such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. Some of the topics to be discussed include government policy, private sector initiatives, public private partnerships, funding, Infrastructure, technology, capacity building, content, e-readiness, e-schools, e-health, e-learning and e-citizens. Ends