Turkish investors eye Rwanda

VILLAGE URUGWIRO-A group of visiting investors from Turkey are seeking to invest in various sectors including tourism, energy, real estate and health. Rwanda’s Honorary Consul to Turkey, Inanç Çiftçi, who led the delegation of 15 prospective investors, yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Paul Kagame at Urugwiro Village. Addressing reporters after holding talks with the Head of State, Çiftçi said that Rwanda’s investment climate and the ease to do business are the main factors that attracted the Turkish investors. “After I was appointed consul, my target has been to bring more people to invest in Rwanda. Right now, I feel like I am home, in my beautiful country and I will do a lot to promote Rwanda,” Çiftçi said. “Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is a very successful office; it will go a long way to promote investments in Rwanda”. Çiftçi said that upon his return to Turkey, he will inform his compatriots about the ease with which a business can be registered in Rwanda through RDB and how the environment is favourable to investment. “It was amazing to see how people work at RDB. It has aggressive young people who work hard and the businessmen I came with from Turkey saw this and were impressed,” he added. “As you might know, Turkey has built a name in housing and construction. We are proposing low-cost housing projects and we already have a businessman who deals in gold who has already established a mining company here.” Çiftçi disclosed that five of the businessmen already registered their interest with RDB while others expressed the will. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mary Baine, said that the Turkish investors were attracted to Rwanda when the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, visited Turkey. Baine pointed out that Çiftçi discussed with President Kagame investments prospects in the country, with the Head of State assuring the investors of government support. Ends

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Turkish investors eye Rwanda