Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente presented the government’s Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) to a joint session of Parliament, outlining key priorities that will shape Rwanda’s development over the next five years. This new strategy according to Ngirente builds on the successes of NST1 and aligns with the country’s Vision 2050, which is aimed at achieving $12,476 GDP per capita in 2050. “The achievements under NST1 were a result of collective efforts. With the same spirit, we believe we can achieve even more,” Ngirente stated. ALSO READ: Unpacking Rwanda’s five-year development strategy: Here are the 14 goals The NST2, which is based on three pillars—economy, well-being, and good governance—prioritizes job creation, boosting exports, enhancing public services, improving education quality, and tackling child stunting and malnutrition. Below are the seven key areas on which the five-year strategy will focus. 1. A multi-pronged effort Ngirente emphasized that boosting productivity across all sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture, manufacturing, and services, is critical to delivering the projected 9.3 per cent annual growth rate over the next five years. Agriculture is expected to grow by 6 percent annually, while manufacturing and services are expected to grow by 10 percent each. The “Made in Rwanda” initiative will be key, with local production projected to grow by 13 percent, thje premier said. Private investments are expected to more than double from $2.2 billion in 2024 to $4.6 billion by 2029, while national savings are expected to increase from 12.4 percent of GDP to over 25 percent. Ngirente stressed the importance of managing inflation and maintaining economic stability to achieve these goals. ALSO READ: NST1: How has Rwanda fared in achieving seven-year plan? 2. Industry development In the industrial sector, the focus will be on increasing production, adding value to locally produced goods, and reducing imports. Rwanda aims to enhance its capacity to meet domestic demand while boosting exports, particularly to neighboring countries. Key strategies include optimizing special economic zones such as those in Kigali, Bugesera, and Rwamagana while promoting the Made in Rwanda policy and developing logistics platforms to streamline trade. Export revenues are projected to double to $7.3 billion in 2029. 3. Tourism growth Tourism revenues are expected to increase from $620 million in 2024 to $1.1 billion by 2029. The government will focus on promoting the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, as well as nature-based, high-end, and sports tourism. Special attention will be given to developing sports infrastructure and nurturing talent across the country. 4. Water and energy supply Efforts to expand access to clean water and electricity will increase, with a focus on extending services to villages and essential institutions like schools, industries, and hospitals. The number of hydropower plants will also increase to meet growing demand. The contribution of renewable energy sources is projected to reach 60 per cent up from the current 52 per cent. 5. Transport sector improvements Ngirente outlined plans to improve public transport, particularly through dedicated bus lanes in the City of Kigali, and the construction of 300 kilometres of new tarmac roads and 500 km of feeder roads. The national carrier RwandAir will expand its routes and double the numbers its passenger, while cargo capacity will also increase to support exports. ALSO READ: RwandAir records 80% revenue growth in 2023 6. Education sector Education quality remains a priority, with efforts to align the curriculum with market needs and ensure that all children are enrolled in school. Pre-primary enrollment is set to rise from 35 percent to 65 percent, alongside plans to increae the number of teachers and improve school infrastructure. A focus will be placed on improving mathematics teaching and language proficiency. 7. Healthcare expansion Access to healthcare will be expanded by increasing the number of healthcare workers and improving maternal, child, and infant care. Medical tourism will be promoted, and efforts to combat malnutrition will aim to halve stunting rates from 33 per cent to 15 per cent. Sanitation improvements will also be a key focus. By addressing these areas among others in the plan, the NST2 aims to move Rwanda towards its Vision 2050 goals, ensuring sustained economic growth and improved quality of life for all citizens, Ngirente said.
