Rwanda is flying high at the moment, literally. And as expected, it is rubbing the usual suspects the wrong way. Last year we had to contend with a lot of noise over Rwanda’s tourism sponsorship with Arsenal FC, the noise quelled when the deal bore fruit beyond expectations for the Visit Rwanda campaign. Now another deal has been signed with Paris Saint Germain which surprisingly has not ruffled any “concerned” feathers. The latest is that Qatar Airways has come out with some other great news; it seeks to acquire a 41 per cent stake in Rwandair. That makes sense since at the end of last year it acquired 60 per cent of Bugesera Airport under construction. Qatar also wants to invest in the hospitality industry, and from experience with the Gulf state, it will not be just any hotel but a jewel. The country has recognized Rwanda’s potential which the latter has gone to great lengths to build. So, for all those out there making uninformed noises, the deal with Qatar is purely business where both sides see some benefits. Anyway, it is not the first time the Qatar Airways buys into other airlines. It owns stakes in IAG (the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus), LATAM, Cathay Pacific, Air Italy, China Southern, and more. Attracting investors first needs investor assurance. That means a conducive business environment and doing away with undue bureaucracy and corruption. Those are areas that Rwanda has excelled in and it is a sure bet that this year, many other investors are lined up. What else would one ask for if they did not want to move around with a begging bowl as many countries seem to have adopted? The only way to break the shackles of dependence is seeking greener pastures, and not necessarily outside one’s borders.
