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#1 ·
Societe Tunisienne del L’Electricite et du Gaz, or STEG, signed a $68.6 million contract to connect 50,000 households to Rwanda’s electricity grid.

STEG will build the electricity network over two year, while Rwanda pays in installments over five years, Yves Muyange, managing director of Rwanda’s electricity and water utility, said by phone from the capital, Kigali, today.

The project is part of a $380 million program to increase the number of households with electricity to 350,000 from 110,000 as of June. The program is being financed by the government and its development partners, Muyange said.

“The project is part of government efforts to connect 50 percent of the population by 2017,” Muyange told reporters after signing the project agreement on Nov. 23.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-...6-million-electricity-contract-in-rwanda.html
 
#154 ·
Compulsory online business registration starts Feb. 14
February 10 2014
New Times



Starting February 14, those wishing to register a business will do so online, as the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) moves to ease the process further.

Louise Kanyonga, the registrar general at RDB, said in order to facilitate a smooth transition, the company registration office will offer work spaces and free online help-desk services to all clients for a year.

“And as opposed to the Rwf15,000 required for the discontinued physical registration, the online service is free,” she said.

Information Technology experts have, however, advised the Board to make the online registration process easy for users.

“When RDB says they have reduced the number of hours it takes for online business registration, they should find out whether it is adding value,” said Saddiq Mwai, director technology advisory services at Price WaterhouseCoopers, a management and tax consultancy firm.

Mwai said the procedures should be made easier for clients. This, he said, can be done by modifying it and setting key performance indicators for the system.

The registrar’s office reduced time required to register a business online from 24 to six hours two years ago, making Rwanda one of the fastest place to register a business in the world.

The total number of businesses registered online went up to 4,169 businesses as at the end of last year up from 473 businesses in 2011.

The number of entrepreneurs who have been going to register physically at RDB decreased from 8,595 in 2011 to 7,119 businesses end of last year.
 
#155 ·
Hundreds rush to buy shares in Gasabo Investment Company (GIC)
February 10 2014
New Times


The current structure that will be razed down to pave way for a modern mall, vendors will be moved to a temporarily location when construction works commence


rendering of the new mall

The plan to construct a $40 million shopping mall at Kimironko market is gaining pace as more investors rush to buy shares in Gasabo Investment Company (GIC), the company behind the project.

The number of shareholders in GIC has more than doubled with about over Rwf1.64 billion raised from share subscription, up from Rwf541 million collected during the launch in September 2013.

Fabrice Shema Ngoga, the board chairperson, told a stakeholders meeting last week that the number of shareholders had increased to 368, up from 162.

“This shows that there is a lot of public interest in the project. And all these people who have so far bought shares are Rwandans. This is something we are happy about even though foreigners are also welcome,” he said.

Each share goes for Rwf10, 000 and the minimum number of shares an investor can buy is currently fixed at one hundred francs.

Construction of Gasabo Mall, an ultra-modern three-storey facility, is expected to commence before the end of the year.

Jean-Claude Munara, the Gasabo Distict vice-mayor in charge of economic affairs, said the shopping mall is just part of bigger project that includes a housing estate of about 2, 000 units and warehouses.

During the launch of the company last September, it was reported that in the coming seven years, the company would focus on three main infrastructure projects; the Gasabo Shopping Mall, a housing estate and warehouses at an estimated cost of $40 million, $80 million and $10 million, respectively.

Five commercial banks; Bank of Kigali, COGEBANQUE, KCB, Banque Populaire du Rwanda and GT Bank have since come on board to facilitate potential investors with loans to invest in GIC shares.

“For people who wish to invest less than Rwf6 million, no collateral will be required and the interest rate is negotiable. It won’t be higher than our normal rates and you don’t have to have an account with us to get a loan,” said Godffrey Shema of KCB.

Officials say that the structure will be constructed in phases to ensure that traders are not disrupted. Last year, Innocent Bahizi, the head of the vendors’ association in Kimironko market, said they are ready to put up with any inconvenience during the construction period. Vendors will be moved to a temporarily location when construction works commence.

The market has 2,200 vendors and many of them have already bought shares in the company.

And commercial banks on board, it is expected that more vendors will invest in the project.

Consultants have declared the project viable, with a high return on investment. “The earnings per share quadruple within one year of full operation,” Emmanuel Murangira, a consultant economist who worked on the project said during the launch.
 
#156 ·
Rwanda: Industrial sector +11.6% but Services only +3.9%
February 13 2014
New Times


Central bank governor John Rwangombwa (centre), vice governor Monique Nsanzabaganwa (left) and the bank’s chief economist, Thomas Kigabo, at the presentation of the Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Statement in Kigali

Industrial sector growth of 11.6 per cent helped the economy stay on course during the first three quarters of 2013 even as the pace of expansion slowed down, the central bank said yesterday.

The service sector was the biggest contributor to slow economic growth recorded at 6.4 per cent, 5.7 per cent and 3.9 per cent in the first three quarters of last year—the lowest in more than eight years.

While presenting the semi-annual BNR Governor’s Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Statement yesterday, John Rwangombwa said the service sector output increased only by 4.6 per cent on average in the first three quarters of 2013, a sharp decline from 12.2 per cent recorded in 2012. He attributed this to “reduced government spending and slowdown in credit distribution to the private sector.”

Government current expenditure, one of the key drivers of growth in the service sector, increased by 4.5 per cent last year down from 12.7 per cent in 2012, while new authorised loans to commerce and hotels inched upwards by 7.2 per cent from 47.3 per cent recorded in 2012. On the other hand, financing to transport and warehousing services declined by 3.2 per cent from an increase of 23.3 per cent in the same period of the previous year.

Rwangombwa however said the export sector continued to record good performance last year with formal exports value standing at $573m (Rwf382.8bn), representing an annual increase of 18.7 per cent while the volume increased by 6.8 per cent.

Formal imports increased slightly by 2.2 per cent in value and 4.3 per cent in volume, amounting to $2,247.4m (Rwf 1.5tr) in the same period.

Rwangombwa said that this resulted in reduction in the trade deficit from $1,717.2m (Rwf 1.15tr) recorded in 2012 to $1,674.4m (Rwf 1.11tr) last year while import cover by exports increased to 25.4 per cent from 21.9 per cent recorded in 2012.

Including informal cross border trade, exports covered 30 per cent of imports from 27.7 per cent in 2012.

“The faster we can cover for our imports using exports, the better for the sustainable growth of our economy,” he said.

Tea, coffee and pyrethrum continued to dominate the export sector, despite low prices on the international market. These accounted for 62.1 per cent of the total export in 2013 against 59.4 per cent in 2012.

Rwangombwa said minerals recorded a good run in performance due to ongoing reforms, substantial investments in the sector and high prices for some minerals on the international market.

The total value of exported main minerals (Coltan, Cassiterite and Wolfram) last year amounted to $225.7m (Rwf 150.8bn) from $136.1m (Rwf 90.9bn) in 2012, which is an increase of 65.9 per cent, largely dominated by Coltan which increased by 136.5 per cent in value and 115.4 per cent in volume to reach 2,466.02 tons from 1,144.68 tons in 2012.

He noted that the good performance in the export of minerals has offset the decline in coffee and tea revenues, accounting for 63.4 per cent of the traditional exports.

Prices of coffee declined last year due to fears of oversupply on the international market after some Latin American producers overshot their production estimates.

Similarly, tea and pyrethrum export volumes and revenues declined mainly due to unfavorable weather conditions.

The monetary policy committee however noted that the dependency on the few primary commodities remained one of the main challenges for Rwanda as the country needs to reduce the high structural external trade deficit and build resilience to external shocks.

Lawson Naibo, chief operating officer of Bank of Kigali said that as a result of donor suspension and reduced government spending last year, the treasury bills rate had shot upwards leading to reduced credit to the private sector, thus the decline in service provision.

“Since the resumption of donor flows and government spending, there is more liquidity in the economy and we have seen the treasury bills rate going down and even banks competing to lend members of the private sector,” he said.
 
#157 ·
Samsung pledges to market local ICT innovators’ apps
February 17 2014
New Times


Ngeru says the electronics firm is helping developers to up their game.

Samsung electronics has pledged to help market apps (applications) made by local ICT (Information and Communication Technology) innovators on its website.

“We are ready to help Rwandan developers and entrepreneurs if they can make apps that will solve some of the challenges faced by the community. That should not be a problem at all, the opportunity is theirs to lose,” Robert Ngeru, the Samsung Electronics East Africa chief operating officer, said.

The nascent local apps development sub-sector has for long been complaining about lack of investors to help market their innovations. However, sector observers say the challenge has been that most apps developed by local ICT innovators do not provide solutions to local problems.

Ngeru challenged the developers to think globally, but offer ICT solutions to problems that plague the society if they are to succeed.

“Developers should customise their apps and content to help solve community problems, ease processes, and contribute to the development of society,” he said.

Ngeru was speaking to The New Times on the sidelines of the just-ended Samsung Africa Forum 2014 in Malaga, Spain. The event also marked the global launch of the firm’s new products, including curved TV sets, tablets, triangle air conditioners, a battery or solar-powered TV sets, next generation still cameras, a four-door refrigerator, washing machines and printers, among others.

Last year, the forum was held in Cape Town, South Africa.

“Rwanda being an agricultural country, ICT developers could, for instance, come up with applications that will address some of the challenges the sector faces. This could be in produce marketing, input sourcing, disease detection and market research, among others.”

Ngeru was, however, optimistic that local developers would up their game, saying Samsung Electronics has been supporting the country’s ICT incubation centre, kLab, located in Kacyiru, Kigali.

He said the electronics firm has been providing advisers to local developers and ICT enthusiasts at kLab to guide and help them perfect their art and grow the sector.

Rwanda is looking to become an Information and Communication Technology hub in the region. The government also seeks to make ICT service provision a major driver of the economy.
 
#158 ·
SMEs need to be considered in public tenders, says BDF boss
February 17 2014
New Times


Innocent Bulindi explains a point during the interview. He says BDF will ensure that all people who want to access loans for business get them

Established in 2011, the Business Development Fund’s mandate is to facilitate Small and Medium Enterprises with access to finance by acting as a credit guarantee facility. The New Times’ Collins Mwai spoke to the CEO of the institution, Innocent Bulindi for insights on what role the institution has played in developing a private sector led economy and below are the excerpts.

Business Development Fund facilitates access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises, how does one qualify for the funding?

To qualify for funding through BDF, the only requirement is that the project is viable after going through the bank’s appraisal process. If the bank believes your project can repay back the loan, you qualify.

We have no preferences or discrimination on the types of projects that qualify for funding or preference of groups to individuals.

We work with all sectors in our bid to build a private sector led economy. It so happens that agriculture is dominant, but we also support non-agricultural projects. We have also identified that youth and women need financial capital and we want to ensure that they get it.

There is a general perception that for one to qualify for support from BDF, they must be having established projects. Is there a chance that start-ups can get support too?

We also support start-ups on top of existing projects. The challenge at times is that banks and financiers are not willing to put their money into start-ups. They are usually looking for a track record. If you have no prior experience or proven record, the risk is perceived to be higher which lowers start-ups chances of getting funded.

If it is an existing establishment that has prior records, the chances are usually higher.

As a credit guarantee facility, we have intervention mechanisms to see to it that projects that would have otherwise not been funded get funded. We are in the business of transferring risks. We take on the risks by guaranteeing the bank. We are trying to move it from collateral lending which tends to be biased to alternative forms of collateral.

We have an indirect guarantee model where it is up to the lender appraise, if they are viable, we have an agreement with the lender that we are guaranteeing the project.

Briefly take us through the process from when a client has a potential project to when he or she gets funded?

For now, one doesn’t have to come to BDF offices for funding. Lending should be convenient and about proximity. One only needs to walk to the lender (bank, Sacco, or any micro finance institution) closest to them.

It is easier for the lender to conduct appraisals and follow up as they are close to them. Getting loans also involves building trust. It is important that one has a relationship with their lender.

We have built a network of about 360 lenders (340 Saccos, 7 MFIs, and 13 banks) countrywide. Through them, we reach out to people all over the country. They are our first contact with the client. Lenders appraise the project then write to us for the guarantee.

Considering the types of the upcoming start-ups and the cost of debt, are there instances where you advise clients to consider alternative sources of finance?

We take into consideration that debts are at times too expensive especially for start-ups. We have a product where we buy into the project and have a stake in the project.

That happens when one has a good project that the bank is not willing to fund for whatever reasons and after going through it, BDF considers it to have potential.

The ICT sector is growing very fast and investors have been urged to come on board and be more willing to fund ICT projects. How are you going to intervene?

We have had discussions with stakeholders (PSF ICT chamber, BRD amongst others). The issue comes down to the stage at which these ICT projects are, most of them are in the incubation stage.

They are more or less at the laboratory stage, there is no guarantee that the products delivered are going to be sold and pay back the loans.

What are the major challenges facing most projects you are funding?

We support small and medium enterprises. Most of them come up with products or services that are not competitive in the market. They are not in position to bid for and compete with established enterprises.

We support very many of them in different sectors, but when they get to putting their products and services on the market, there is a big challenge.

At times it is because of the stages of growth. When one is starting up, it is obvious they may not have a long proven track record as most tenders have it and yet given a chance you can actually penetrate the market and perform well.

Our national procurement process is ‘straight’ due to our stand against corruption. In the process, bids are open to everyone on equal ground. It does not classify or give consideration to smaller or newer establishments.

In the procurement act, there is no provision to support smaller and newer establishments to bring up a stronger private sector led economy.

Probably policy makers need to look out for ways to build the emerging enterprises. One way is by setting a side a percentage in the total bids that should go into smaller and emerging enterprises across all sectors to help them grow.

The pace of investment growth in the recent past has been fast and there have been numerous emerging trends as well as models. Would you consider having a capacity building role among the establishments you find to see to it that they are up to task and competitive to curb the default rate?

There is need to integrate funding with capacity building but under our mandate, that is not BDF’s role. We have realised that access to finance alone is not enough and we are trying to work with other partners to ensure that once funded the projects take off. One of the ways is to ensure they have adequate capacity.

So far, how have you faired in terms of the support accorded to SMEs?

Since our inception we have supported 1,440 businesses totaling to about Rwf 19.9 billion. we have given 1,802 grant disbursements to the tune of Rwf1.3 billion. We have provided loans to 12 Saccos worth Rwf 1.08 Billion. We have also taken stakes in 17 businesses so far amounting to Rwf0.42 billion.Through the government’s support, we received Rwf14 billion to support small and medium enterprises.

Other major milestones are that we have signed agreements with 360 lenders countrywide and geographically we cover the whole country.

In the agreement we use the lenders’ entire branch network, meaning that if you are signed to a particular lender, you can approach them at any point in the country.

We are opening seven branches in the near future and we are also planning for 23 more in the next financial year to become more accessible to those who would want to approach us directly. We plan to be available at district level.

Any non-performing loans?

We have a non-performing rate of about 3 per cent of loans which we need to break down if we are to get further. The key reason for the non performing loans is the poor structuring of loans by banks.

They give loans without factoring the seasonality of what the establishment is engaging in and at times the cost is so high which affects the loans management.Most banks also lack mechanisms to work with defaulters to recover their loans.

Banks are known to be very strict while lending compared to MFIs. There is a lot of bureaucracies involved, making it harder for the youth to access funding. Do you have preferences where you urge your client to deal with Micro finance institutions rather than Banks?

MFI are good in that that they have a network and capacity to serve rural areas and are geographically placed to reach clients at the grassroots. But though Saccos and MFI have a geographical advantage, they may lack the ‘financial muscle’ that banks have. They may lack some capacities that banks have.

Mostly, loans exceeding Rwf2 million can not be obtained from MFIs. For us we do not push clients to go for any lender, we urge them to go for the most convenient according to them putting into consideration their needs.

Any practices you would recommend borrowers and lenders to adopt to ensure a private sector led economy as envisaged in the different development strategies by government?

Having a positive credit history is very important because it determines whether you get funding or not and there is also a lot of information sharing between lenders to check the credit worthiness of a borrower.

There is also need to integrate post financing models that will see other players and banks have a role in mentoring and building capacities after funding projects.

Mostly when financiers give you money, it ends at that and they expect repayment, but if they had a bigger role in building capacity, there would better performance and a stronger economy.

An expert’s opinion on how we can effectively build a sustainable private sector led economy?

Now that infrastructure is already in place, we need policy frameworks that are more practical for people in the private sector at all levels. All players in the private sector need to be considered.
 
#159 ·
Ghana investors eye local power sector

Currently a 32-man delegation from the Rwanda Private Sector Federation is in Ghana to improve ties

About 25 000 Ghanaians come to Rwanda each year, but only 700 Rwandans come to Ghana. RwandAir operates 4 flights a week

Rwanda’s efforts to increase power generation to over 560MW by 2017 could get a big boost after Ghanaian investors expressed interest in the sector.

Officials at ReRoy Power Limited, one of the leading power generation and distribution company in Ghana, said they were ready to partner with local business people and the government to set up a power generation project in Rwanda.

Roy Papafio, the chief executive officer, said though the government is working with local businesses under the public-private partnership scheme to boost electricity generation, it should also foster joint ventures with international companies.

“It is through these partnerships that Rwanda will be able to tap into the expertise needed to generate and distribute power at affordable rates to spur growth. ReRoy power is ready to be part of the solution towards Rwanda’s energy needs,” Papafio said.

He was speaking during the recently-concluded visit by Rwanda’s Private Sector Federation to Ghana, where they discussed possibilities of forming joint ventures with their counterparts at the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Rwanda currently generates 110.8MW of power, with the government targeting to increase it to 563MW by 2017.

The government needs about $3b to increase access to electricity from 17 per cent of the population to 70 per cent over the same period.

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index...=15644&a=74805
 
#160 ·
Catchy tech projects that stole the show at Miss Geek contest
March 11 2014
New Times


Sibo (second right) receives her certificate from Tigo staff

On Saturday, Nancy Sibo was announced the winner of Miss Geek 2014 for her mobile cow application project.

Miss Geek, a technology award that recognises ICT projects by women, was organised for the first time in Rwanda.

Sibo, a student in the Faculty of Agriculture Engineering, University of Rwanda, presented her application called ‘Mobile Cow’, an app that could be tied to the government’s Girinka programme to allow farmers to monitor the estrus cycles of cows.

Speaking to The New Times, Isibo said she was so happy to be the winner of the inaugural Miss Geek award as an agriculture student who participated among students of technology from other universities.

Among the prizes she won was a mini iPad from Tigo, a BlackBerry phone from Dot Rwanda, an internship at Ecobank, and training at k-Lab.

She was chosen among the 25 applicants from various higher learning institutions across the country.

The second prize winner was Christine Bayizere, a student in Electronics and Electricity Engineering, who presented a ‘Wireless Black Box’ for monitoring vehicles and sending alerts in case of an accident.

Josephine Tujyimbere came third with the Class Attendance Management System that uses fingerprint recognition to monitor students’ progress.

Chantal Mukundwa, a Computer Engineering and Information Technology student, explained her proposed software, called the Nearby Item Locator System, which is both a web and mobile application that allows users to search for items they wish to buy, and receive a list of the nearest shops with those items in stock.

She scooped the people’s choice award from online voting.

Govt support

The fifth was Eline Nyirangirimana, an ICT student who developed the Online Driving Licence Examination System that allows users to save time by taking their driving tests online.

Akaliza Gara, a member of Girls in ICT, said Miss Geek is an opportunity to celebrate the women in ICT and inspire other women to join the sector.

“There is nothing specifically male about ICT, it’s something that both men and women can embrace and use to make the most of their career,” she said.

The Minister for Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, said government, through the Smart Rwanda programme, supports girls in ICT so they can contribute to the country’s development agenda.

Nsengimana said while women have been economically, socially and politically empowered, the number of women in science and technology remains low.
 
#161 ·
Rwandan Businesswomen eye Turkish market
March 11 2014
New Times


Rwandan businesswomen pose for a photo with their Turkish counterparts

Rwandan women entrepreneurs have been urged to take advantage of the strong business relations between Rwanda and Turkey to look for better business opportunities.

The call was made during the just-concluded Turkey- Africa Women Entrepreneurs Trade Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey. The trade mission, which attracted 314 women from 39 African countries and 448 Turkish businesswomen, was organised by TUSKON (Confederation of Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists) in partnership with the African Union.

The women were also challenged to develop business networks and form partnerships with their Turkish counterparts across all sectors of the economy.

“Use this visit as a platform to exchange experiences and good practices, as well as chance to identify new investment opportunities and partnerships,” Rwanda’s ambassador to Turkey, Caesar Kayizari, said.

He said the women should use the trip as an opportunity to market Rwandan products in Turkey and Europe generally.

Charlotte Umurerwa, a business woman who deals in stationery products, said she got a lot of useful contacts that she hopes to use to expand her business.


The Rwanda Active Businessmen Association (Rwaba) that brings together Turkish and Rwanda’s businesses organised the Turkey-African Women Entrepreneurs Trade Bridge.

Adem Sanliturk, the secretary general of Rwaba, said the trip was aimed at creating a chance for Rwandan businesswomen to explore business opportunities in Turkey.

“Rwaba’s priority is to create linkages that foster mutual business dialogue and partnerships between Rwandan and Turkish business people,” Sanliturk explains.

Rwanda Active Businessmen Association is a member of TUSKON.

He said the African Continent Trade Bridge was a special event that will greatly empower and inspire local women entrepreneurs. TUSKON, the new global brand of Turkey, with more than 140,000 member Turkish companies aims to share Turkish private sector’s industrial experiences with African companies to contribute to their growth and development targets of Africa as a whole.

At the same event, TUSKON and African Union signed an investment agreement.

According to the Erasmus Mwancha, the vice-president of the African Union Commission, women entrepreneurs should be celebrated and supported in every country.

“Africa is increasingly becoming attractive and a major hub for foreign investors as a result of sound macro-economic policies, political and social reforms that the continent has been pursing, especially in the last decade, which have improved the business environment to woo foreign direct investments,” Mwancha added.

The African Union represents 54 countries in Africa.
 
#162 ·
Rwf2.14bn drainage facility to end Nyabugogo floods woes
March 14 2014
New Times


Workers expand the Nyabugogo tunnel. The area is among the many spots in the country that have always been affected by floods

Construction is underway for the Nyabugogo drainage system that will end flooding woes in the area.

The drainage facility is a sub-section of lower-Nyabugogo road expansion process meant to enlarge both the road and drainage system and curb the regular flooding.

Karim Zirimwabagabo, the inspector of road maintenance and infrastructures at the City of Kigali, said the facility will cost Rwf2.14 billion and is expected to be completed in May.

“Construction will take two months and there after the road will be opened to users. We are trying to enlarge Nyabugogo drainage and ensure that there is no more flooding in that area again,” Zirimwabagabo said.

Nyabugogo has of recent been prone to floods during the rainy season. Heavy downpour has occasionally swept away structures, properties and sometimes people.

Previously, there has been a public outcry to city authorities to work on city drainage system and curb floods.

Claire Uwingabire, a businesswoman in Nyabugogo, hailed the project, saying the new facility will end her worries whenever the rainy season approaches.

“I have seen people and property being carried away by the floods and this drainage looks large enough to accommodate huge volumes of running water from Nyamirambo and city centre,” a visibly excited Uwingabire said.

However, there are concerns from nearby traders that construction might be delayed due to ‘slow pace of work and unpredictable weather changes’ but Zirimwabagabo is positive that work will go as planned.
 
#163 ·
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#166 ·
Apparently, the first computer assembly factory in Africa is in Rwanda
sorry, the video is in french.

 
#167 · (Edited)
The companies behind this is a Argentinian-Brazilian Joint Venture. What is really astonishing is that it is a real investment not a bogus project :)

For those hearing of POSITIVO for the first time, what is it all about and how big is it? - New Times
POSITIVO BGH is a joint venture between two business leaders in Latin America, one is POSITIVO, a Brazilian company with over 9,000 employees and revenue of more than $2 billion a year. The other is BGH, from Argentina, with more than 3,000 employees and revenue of about $1 billion a year.
If you look at our growth in Latin America, you will notice that over the past eight years, our growth has been about 62 per cent annually, which is quite unique. We are looking to replicate the same performance in Africa.
Locally assembled laptops to ease shortage in Rwanda schools - The EAST AFRICAN

Positivo BGH African president Juan Ignacio Ponelli, told Rwanda Today, that production at the factory based in Special Economic Zone started in mid-July and so far 7,800 units have been assembled. “We are bringing the best available technology to Rwanda and the continent. We have strong partnerships with global leaders in this industry like Intel, Google, Microsoft,” said Ponelli. The company plans to assemble 75,000 units by the end of the year. Local produced laptop’s specifications are: an Intel 4th generation processor with a hard disk drive of 320 GB, a RAM memory of 2 GB, high definition audio, HD graphics, HD video camera, 3 USB ports, HDMI and VGA ports, and it is ready to support Windows 10.
First “Made In Rwanda” Computers In Kigali Stores - KTPress.rw

The price of the laptop was concealed and will only be announced at the launch, but a source told KT Press they will be affordable compared to other brands on the market and will come with a six months warranty and after sale services. An average retail price for other brands is at Rwf200, 000 (US$265). Karenzi said at least 150,000 units are already in the stock for release to the retailers. He said the plant has the capacity to produce at least 60,000 units per month.
 
#171 ·
Turkey opens doors to Rwandan doctors to attend medical observership programmes



Rwandan doctors tour some of the medical facilities in Instanbul, Turkey.​

Rwanda’s medical tourism is set to get a big boost, thanks to Turkey’s new initiative to allow and promote medical observership programmes between the two countries.

The initiative, supported by Medical Park Hospitals Group of Turkey in collaboration with the Turkish Airlines, seeks to enhance the exchange of knowledge, skills and expertise between the two countries, said Hacim Crikil, the business development specialist and head of international patient directorship, Medical Park Hospitals Group in Turkey.

Crikil, who was speaking during a recent meeting with Rwandan doctors in Istanbul, Turkey, recently, said the initiative is expected to make it easy for Rwandans to travel to Turkey for medical services.

“As Medical Park Hospitals Group we care about sharing our accumulated knowledge and modern treatment methods with our colleagues and people around the world,” Crikil noted.

Through this programme, Rwandan doctors have a chance to share experiences and knowledge on oncological surgery, pediatric oncology, gynecologic oncology, urooncology, radiation oncology radiotherapy (linac, hipec) tomotherapy gamma knife and medical oncology, among others, with their Turkish counterparts.

Beating heart bypass surgeries, interventional cardiology procedures, Permanent or temporary cardiac pacemaker implantations, balloon valvuloplasty, electrophysiology studies , congenital heart defect corrective surgeries (ASD, VSD, PDA), carotid artery stenosis and peripheral artery stenosis are some of the areas the observer-ship programme intends to prioritise.

“The idea is to allow Rwandan doctors to go to Turkey for medical observership programmes, while opening doors for Rwandans to visit the country for any kind of medical attention,” Murat Meric, the corporation’s supervisor at Medical Park Hospital Group said.

Our guiding corporate criteria are and will be to share our expertise to deliver the best and affordable healthcare to the people. Continuous investment in our human resources, medical technologies and facilities, without making any concession on the code of medical ethics or patient rights is the ultimate objective of this mission, he added.

Omer Faruk Korkmaz, the Turkish Airline’s general manger for Rwanda, said the initiative is designed to boost both bilateral and economic relationships between Rwanda and Turkey.

“We are already organising orientation medical trips for doctors, experts and medical professors from both countries to travel and visit each other so they can be able to come up with modalities on how to work together,” Korkmaz told The New Times in an earlier interview.

Statistics indicate that only 4 per cent Africans travel to Europe for medical reasons, while almost 96 per cent go to India for similar services.

Doctors welcome the initiative

Dr Nathan Ruhamya, a cardiologist at King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda, said, the programme is an opportunity to boost medical skills in Rwanda.

“We believe that through these programmes we will be able to acquire knowledge and skills that we can use to strengthen our medical services in Rwanda,” Dr Ruhamya said.

Already, a group of Rwandan doctors has paid a visit to some of the Medical Park Hospital Group’s facilities in Turkey and both parties are fine tuning procedures to make the programme a success.
 
#172 ·
Rwanda aims at becoming a medical tourism hub, just like Singapore. There is no masterplan written down as there is no need for foreign investments. Investments in this camp will come from Rwandans themselves.

I have a relative that currently works for Polyclinique la Medicale, future "City Center Hospital". The owner already makes a lot of money with his private hospital, he saved to build an upgraded facility in the center of Kigali.

Nyarugenge | City Center Hospital (ex Polyclinique la Medicale) | U/C

 
#173 · (Edited)
Rwandan monarchists ready to invest in real estate




Rwandans In Canada To Invest $7M In Housing


Housing construction is booming Rwanda due to the high demand for affordable housing​

Allain Patrick Ndengera, a Rwandan living in Canada and other partners, has found a better place to invest his idle cash.

He announced during the 13th National Dialogue taking place in Kigali that him and a few other Rwandans living in Canada will invest $7million in real estate projects back home.


“We are abroad, but we are attached to our home country; we want to build apartments in city of Kigali, the project will cost us $7 million,” he said, attracting wild applause.

Ndengera said that Rwandans in Canada have invested in several sectors in Rwanda, through capital markets, but he believes the investment in real estate will contribute to bridging the gap in housing industry.

The Rwanda Housing Authority estimates the Rwanda’s demand for affordable housing in general to at least 560,000 Units by 2020.

In Kigali City alone, the new housing demand is estimated at 344,068 dwelling units between 2012 and 2022, with more than 60% needed for low and middle class.

Kigali is targeting to build at least 10,000 dwelling units every year to bridge the gap, creating a ready investment opportunity for various investors like Ndengera.

Meanwhile, he said that Rwandans in Canada also take part in social programs like one cow per family, community work, Umuganda and others, quite like any Rwandan in the country.

Rwandans living abroad say the country integrates them in all its programs, and they always feel their investments should come back home.

Ndengera said this after a speech by Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, who said, “Before appointing any ambassador to represent Rwanda abroad, we make sure we assign them to make the embassy a home for any Rwandan in that country.”

“We are no longer asking what our country should do for us, rather, we want to find out what we could do for our country,” said Ndengera.

Every year since 2003, the national dialogue gives an opportunity to each and every Rwandan to appreciate the progress of the country, to ask a question they think is hindering the country progress and to propose a breakthrough.
 
#175 ·
Govt to set up logistics platform to facilitate international trade​



The Ministry of Trade and Industry has signed a 25-year renewable concession agreement with Dubai Port World to develop and operate a logistics platform, expected to boost international trade and competition in external market.

The envisaged Kigali Logistics Platform (KLP) refers to a defined inland location for the consolidation and distribution of goods that has functions similar to those of a seaport and which includes customs clearance services.

The logistics infrastructure to be located in Masaka, Kigali, will offer different services such as a depot to enable cargo trucks from Mombasa and Dar es Salaam ports to load and offload containers without delay, according to Trade and Industry minister Francois Kanimba.

The partnership follows a competitive tender process where DP World emerged the winner to invest in the programme after negotiations, the minister said after the signing last Friday.

It is hoped that the infrastructure to be constructed will address hurdles that have been affecting transportation of goods to Rwanda.

“There had been cases where offloading containers takes almost the whole week, forcing truckers to make only two trips per month. But with new infrastructure, the trucks will do as many as five trips per month. This will definitely reduce transport costs and increase profit for businesses,” Kanimba told the journalists.

According to Kanimba, there will also be bonded and non-bonded warehouses for both goods that have not yet been cleared by customs and those manufactured by local industries.

“Industries have been lacking where to store their produced goods before they sell them whenever clients order for them. They are used to manufacturing goods only on order which is not fair to customers who need goods without delay,” Kanimba said.

“But with infrastructure of KLP, they will produce to their capacity and store goods in warehouses ready to be sold any time they are ordered. The warehouses will also store their raw materials.”


The platform will also have a big parking yard.

Kigali city has a problem of traffic jam toward Magerwa Gikondo where trucks crossing city roads form long queues to offload containers. But this will be solved by the parking, Kanimba added.

He said government will construct roads allowing those trucks to reach the logistics platform without passing through the city centre.

The port at Masaka will sit on 30 hectares of land. The first phase of infrastructure will occupy 13 hectares, where residents have already been expropriated, while the second phase will be worked on after five years.

Suhail Albanna, senior vice president and managing director of DP World in Middle East and Africa region, said the preliminary study shows that at least $30 million wll be needed to establish Kigali Logistics Platform.

“Good leadership and friendly business environment growing in Rwanda attracted the infrastructure investment that we have been carrying out across the world. We bring to Rwanda expertise, knowledge of logistics arena, It is an encouragement to business and export sector to be able to globally compete,” he said.
 
#176 ·
2 bonded warehouses will be built near Goma and Bukavu, all border posts are being modernized.

The country already ranks 6th in Africa by Logistics Performance Index (where Singapore is 1st in Asia, the Netherlands second in Europe after Germany), it's bound to go up.

The local company that is set to gain the most from this is MAGERWA, not yet listed in the Stock Exchange, maybe soon:

http://afkinsider.com/109759/rwanda-stock-exchange-eyes-three-new-ipos-in-2016/
Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) is off to a promising start with three new initial public offers (IPOs) expected in the Finance, Logistic, and transport sectors.

“We expect three initial public offerings this year,” Chief Executive Officer Pierre Celestin Rwabukumba said told Bloomberg. “Due to disclosure restrictions I cannot tell you which ones.”
 
#177 ·

The Government this afternoon signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Zipline Inc, an American robotics company specialising in remotely piloted aircrafts, popularly referred to as ‘drones’.

The agreement, signed by the Ministry of Youth and ICT and the Ministry of Health on behalf of Government, aims at building an infrastructure for unmanned aerial system to ensure efficient logistical transportation of medical supplies in Rwanda.

A quick win is expected from the delivery of essential medical products especially blood supplies in all hospitals across the country, according to officials.

This makes Rwanda the first country across the world to use drone technology for supply of medical supplies.


Speaking after the deal signing Minster for Youth and ICT Jean-Philbert Nsengimana said that using cutting edge technology would allow supply chains operate independently presenting a huge opportunity in the country.

He noted that this was one of the first initiatives that the government had put in place in line with the Smart Rwanda Master Plan that was approved by cabinet last year.

This is the second international firm to express interest to invest in the technology in the country.

Last year, Norman Foster, a renowned the British architect, expressed interest by his firm, Foster + Partners, alongside business partners to build a drone port in the country.

In their proposal, the investors noted that beginning this year they intend to begin construction of three drone ports which will take about four years to complete.

To facilitate the planned development, the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority also embarked on the process of drafting regulations that will soon be submitted to cabinet for approval and to be made operational this year.

The authority found it important to have the framework in place to guide further developments in the technology which is fast becoming popular as well as other progress such as port construction.
 
#178 · (Edited)
High crop yields expected despite weather changes

For agricultural season 2016A, 285,203 hectares of maize were planted while 908,723 metric tonnes are expected as yield, 406,698 hectares of beans were planted while 510,168 metric tonnes of yield are expected.

At least 72,044 hectares of Irish potatoes were planted with 1,131,596 metric tonnes expected as yield while for soybeans 13,015 hectares were planted with expected yield of 15,263 metric tonnes.
http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2016-02-16/197115/

Crop - Average yield per hectare in Rwanda Season A 2016 (2013) - World average 2013 - China 2013 - Africa 2013 - USA 2013 - South Africa 2013 - Kenya 2013

Maize - 3.2 tons (2.3 tons) - 5.5 tons - 6.1 tons - 2.1 tons - 10 tons - 3.8 tons - 1.6 tons

Beans - 1.3 tons (0.9 tons) - 0.8 tons - 1.5 tons - 0.6 tons - 2.1 tons - 1.2 tons - 0.5 tons

Irish - 15.7 tons (13.6 tons) - 18.9 tons - 15.4 tons - 15 tons - 46.6 tons - 34.4 tons - 18.5 tons

Soy beans - 1.2 tons (0.7 tons) - 2.5 tons - 1.9 tons - 1.2 tons - 2.9 tons - 1.5 tons - 1.5 tons

all data from http://faostat3.fao.org
 
#179 ·
Rwanda's first motorcycle company (RMC) to start business soon.



Would be interesting to know if parts to assemble bikes will be provided by Chineses, Indians, Turkish or Arabs...

So far, if i'm not mistaken, only Sameer Hussein dealer imports motorbikes in the country!

A quick question, will Volkswagen set up assembly plant in Rwanda??
 
#180 ·
A quick question, will Volkswagen set up assembly plant in Rwanda??
Yes, it'll be a plant intended to cover their new Uber-like service

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/ar...wanda-to-open-vw-plant-2017-03-02/rep_id:4136
The concept provides for app-based mobility solutions such as car sharing and ride hailing.

For this purpose, a local vehicle production facility is to be established in the capital city Kigali, to cover vehicle demand for the integrated mobility concept.

Schäfer says establishing an assembly plant should be easy in a business-friendly country such as Rwanda.

“We can activate an assembly plant in three months, as we did in Kenya.”
 
#181 ·
Many Africans see Kagame’s Rwanda as a model. They are wrong

WHEN Paul Kagame was 28, he helped topple the government of Uganda. At 36 he overthrew the government of Rwanda. At 39 he ousted the government of Congo (which was then called Zaire). It is hard to think of another leader who has won so many wars, against such repulsive enemies, on such a tight budget. Mr Kagame is perhaps the most successful general alive, and this is only part of his claim to renown. The boy whose first memories included watching his village burn, and who went to school in a refugee camp, grew up to stop a genocide. As a rebel, he said he had no political ambitions. He has now ruled Rwanda for 23 years, during which the country has been transformed from a blood-spattered wreck to an orderly society with robust economic growth, falling poverty and declining inequality. Many African leaders see him as a model to emulate. He is not.

Granted, first impressions of President Kagame’s Rwanda are often excellent. The streets are clean and safe. The traffic cops are honest. Officials welcome foreign investors and innovators. There is much talk of respect for women’s rights. “If oppressed women should wage a war, I would readily smuggle ammunition to them, for it would be a justified war,” Mr Kagame once said. Donors swoon when they hear that 56% of Rwandan MPs are female—the highest share in the world..

Yet there is another side to the Rwandan miracle that has so impressed the Davos crowd. Rwanda is a police state (see article). The media are stifled. Members of opposition parties are harassed and occasionally murdered. Senior defectors from the regime typically flee abroad, where they are still not safe. A former intelligence chief was strangled in a luxury hotel room in South Africa; a former interior minister was shot dead in Kenya. The parliament that boasts so many women is little more than a rubber-stamp.

Read more: https://www.economist.com/news/lead...impressive-land-ruled-fear-can-never-be-happy
 
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