TOP STORY: Gov’t woos Indian investors

The Indian Ambassador to Rwanda, Ninaj Srivastara also echoed government’s call for investors The government through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has wooed Indian investors to venture into different sectors of the country. This was during an official meeting between the business community of Rwanda and India that took place yesterday at Mille Collin Hotel. In her opening remarks, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Monique Nsanzabaganwa said that the improved opportunities in Rwanda make it possible for investors to make profits but also contribute to the growth and development of the country. “We have easy access to a consumer market of over 360 million people in East, Central and Southern Africa under the regional economic bloc” she explained. Nsanzabaganwa also added that the country has readily available and affordable labour force with a bilingual policy which makes the country and the business community a major link to the world. “To sustain this growth in quest for prosperity, we need friends like you whom we can work in partnership to explore the various investment opportunities untapped in Rwanda or even in India,” she observed. With the private sector as the engine behind the steadily growing Rwandan economy, Nsanzabaganwa disclosed that government still remains keen on hearing from investors with views to continue strengthen the operating investment environment. Joe Ritchie, the Chief Executive Officer of RDB also expressed the country’s will to investors in order to realise further economic development. “Government laid a firm foundation for you (investors) to build on,” he said. The Indian Ambassador to Rwanda based in Uganda, Ninaj Srivastara also echoed government’s call for investors. He said that Rwanda is a conducive and steady business country due to the good will of its government. Srivastara observed that there are incentives and policies in place that promote investment. “The country’s economic growth of 11 percent last year expresses government’s commitment towards development, where Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is key,” he continued. Srivastara added that India’s strengthen in ICT can bolster Rwanda’s efforts to become a regional ICT hub. The 20 delegates under the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF) and the East African Business Council (EABC) to strengthen their partnership. They will also meet President Paul Kagame during their three day visit. The meeting comes as a result of the recent visit of President Paul Kagame to India accompanied by the Rwandan business delegation for the India-Africa Business Partnership Summit held early this year. The summit generated interests in the Indian industry for Rwanda as a business delegation. Ends

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TOP STORY: Gov’t woos Indian investors