Investors hail business climate

URUGWIRO VILLAGE - A delegation of six renowned investors from various countries, yesterday, commended Rwanda’s favourable investment climate during their visit to Urugwiro Village where they had gone to pay a courtesy call on President Paul Kagame. The team, led by the Vice Chairman of Barclays Capital, Marc Holtzman, highlighted that the inspirational leadership of Kagame, his focus on economic growth and crackdown on corruption as the backbone of investment attraction. “I am enormously impressed by the policies of President Kagame and these have attracted my colleagues who are leading businessmen in Indonesia, Asia, United Kingdom, Barclays China and real estate developers from Colorado,” Holtzman said. “These members are now looking at investments in the agricultural sector, natural resources, real estate and under the leadership of Kagame, everyone here with us is encouraged by the opportunities here in Rwanda.” The Barclays Capital official also noted that Kagame has a strong focus on attracting and selling benefits of doing business in Rwanda to foreign investors, adding that the discussions they held will definitely result in substantial opportunities for them as well as Rwandans. “During our discussions with the President, we talked about the government’s willingness to be very open to foreign investment, local partnerships with Rwandan businesses, potential reforms on tax laws that will be made to attract more investment here,” Holtzman added. The officials also emphasized that the country is a jewel and a bright light in the whole of Africa, pointing out that Rwanda is a model for other emerging countries. QUI Zhi Zhong, the Vice Chairman for Asia Pacific and Chairman, Greater China at Barclays Capital, also affirmed that the country has achieved so much over the years, adding that more still needs to be done to improve some issues. “The future of Rwanda is very bright under the leadership of President Kagame, but I believe that solutions should be found to eliminate the problem of unemployment.” Zhong said. “China has come from such a background as Rwanda, and I believe that I can be a part of the solution since I know the steps that China took to get where it is today,” Rwanda Development Board’s CEO, John Gara, said that some of the officials have already decided on which particular investments to bring here, citing real estate development and prospects of establishing a private television. Ends

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Investors hail business climate