By Robert Kayinamura, First Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda.
Rwanda has become an incredible place to do business and the government has been implementing a strategy to improve the business environment for all entrepreneurs and has brought tangible results.
Under the theme Connecting Africa’s Resources through Digital Transformation, the World Economic Forum on Africa will convene regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society to discuss catalysts that can drive radical structural transformation, strengthen public-private collaboration on key global challenges and explore big ideas that can deliver shared prosperity in the region.
This year’s WEF edition will attract an estimated participation of more than 1,500 delegates, including heads of state. Beyond planned sessions, the forum will bring together business leaders with some informal sessions turning into regional enterprises.
For Africans who will attend the WEF, Rwanda has made it easier through RwandAir which currently flies to 18 destinations in Africa making it easy to connect from almost any part of the continent to come to Kigali, this in addition to other airlines that land in the country. Also Rwanda has made it possible for all Passport-holding Africans to receive visas on arrival in Kigali while others can apply for an entry permit online which they can receive within three days.
As Rwanda’s Minister of Finance stated, “participants from countries with winter seasons, needn’t to carry winter clothes as Rwanda has no winter seasons but cautioned them against carrying plastic bags as they’re prohibited under Rwanda law”.
For Business people who will attend the WEF summit, don’t forget to visit Rwanda development Board(RDB). Rwanda Development Board is a government institution charged with promoting investment and facilitating market entry for investors in Rwanda. RDB offers a range of services to potential investors including assistance in acquiring the licenses, certificates, approvals, authorizations and permits required by law to set up and operate a business enterprise in Rwanda.
By any measure, the WEF 2016 is not the conclusion of Rwanda’s story of being an economic and industrial hub, but an affirmation that Rwanda has been identified by the World Bank as one of the world’s fastest growing economies!
