Bank Populaire du Rwanda (BPR) has created an international trade department to serve the growing number of Rwandan companies doing business on the global scene. Ben Kalkman, the Chief Executive Officer of BPR said that the International Department is responsible to manage the bank’s strategic involvement in the multilateral and regional cooperation, with the objective to advance its agenda at international level. The department has been formed in a style of a ‘one-stop-shop’ filled with business information, self-service tools and business management information for clients worldwide. The bank also intends to use this department to make official contacts and corporations with international financial organizations as well as financial authorities in Rwanda. BPR is Rwanda’s leading retail bank with a nationwide network of approximately 130 branches and outlets throughout the country. Recently, the bank shifted from a cooperative status to a corporate structure although it has maintained its cooperative roots by retaining its widespread shareholder base of clients from across the country. Johnny Matabishi, the Head of International Department also added that currently BPR is well positioned to offer national financial institutions high level of products and services, financial expertise, and customer familiarity that has made the bank one of the largest banks in the country. According to the National Bank of Rwanda, BPR boasts approximately 600,000 account holders and has also been licensed to operate as a commercial bank. Ends
