RDB hosts foreign diplomats

NYARUGENGE - The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) on Friday hosted foreign diplomatic corps in the country to a dinner. It was aimed at discussing the role they can play in wooing potential investors from their respective countries to invest in Rwanda. The event held at Serena Kigali Hotel, was attended by Ambassadors, heads of consulates and representatives from the private sector. It is part of the agenda of the government body to fast track development in the country through initiatives such as investment promotion and marketing Rwanda as a better place to do business. Speaking at the dinner, the RDB Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Joe Ritchie, said that the government of Rwanda saw it important to involve resident Ambassadors. “The government of Rwanda values the role of diplomats in this strategy because they provide important international linkages between Rwanda and the countries they represent, as well as connections in the private sectors of their countries,” Ritchie said. The head of the body formed last year by merging different government institutions emphasised the need to include the private sector in the strategy because it possesses the potential to invest. He added that the public sector cannot work properly without the support of the private sector. Ritchie added that Rwanda has demonstrated the capacity to be one of the few favourite areas in the world to invest in as revealed by the 2008 Doing Business Report of the World Bank. Clare Akamanzi, the RDB Deputy CEO-Business Operations and Services, added that the country is doing everything to make doing business in Rwanda even better. She cited the removal of trade barriers and red tape which are a disincentive to investors as some of the strategies the government is already implementing. Akamanzi emphasised the role foreign diplomatic missions can play especially through linking the Rwandan Private sector with their own private sectors, affirming the commitment of RDB to continue providing all the necessary support to prospective investors. Among other things, the diplomats were told that the RDB has transformed into a ‘one-stop centre’ where investors can get all the services such as immigration support, notary services, company registration and licensing without moving from place to place. Some of the Ambassadors who spoke on the night pledged to do their part in wooing investors from their home countries. Rwanda’s friendly climate and environment were cited as some of the positive attributes the country boasts of. Ends