Government unveils investment guide portal

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has launched an online investment guide that will provide a platform to potential investors to explore investment opportunities in the country. The online platform that is accessed via www.theiguides.org/rwanda provides all the details a potential investor would like to know about Rwanda.Speaking at the launch, Tony Nsanganira, the Acting Chief Operating Officer (COO), RDB explained that the portal will enable potential foreign and local investors to find all information online in one place regarding investing in Rwanda.“The information ranges from business costs and investment opportunities to construction permits and land costs, among other useful information an investor would like to know before they comes to invest,” he said.Nsanganira stated that initially RDB had been providing information about investing in Rwanda in booklets and paper documents which wasn’t effective and user friendly.He added: “This online platform is user friendly, easy to access and updated on a regular basis and as well as a tool for marketing investment opportunities in Rwanda.”“This is really part of the broader programmes that we have in terms of promoting and attracting investments in our country and we are proud of this achievement. Investors should take advantage of this platform.”The online portal was developed by the Geneva based United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and supported by the One UN Family in Rwanda.Lamin Momodou Manneh, the UN Resident Coordinator, said the initiative is relevant to Rwanda, as the country sets an ambitious transformation plan to achieve her vision.“For Rwanda’s economy to grow from 7.7 per cent at the moment to 11.5 per cent within a year, it requires a lot of private investment,” he said.Manneh, who is also the United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative, cited Rwanda’s impressive ranking in the World Bank’s recent report on doing business reforms, saying it is an indication that tremendous progress has been made to attract investments in the country.According to UNCTAD officials, the portal also facilitates the sharing of experiences from established investors and allows drawing lessons from case studies of their investment history.“Contrary to paper investment guides, electronic guides can easily be updated at any time to reflect changes in legislation, infrastructure, costs, taxes or any investment relevant information,” said Gunter Fischer, the Economic Affairs Officer at UNCTAD. The World Bank Doing Business Report 2013 ranked Rwanda as the third easiest place to do business in Sub-Saharan Africa, after Mauritius and South Africa.The report ranked Rwanda 52nd out of 185 countries, retaining its reputation as the best business destination in east and central Africa region.

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Government unveils investment guide portal