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02/12/2006 - Winners of business plan competition announced

15/11/2006 - RPSF hosts Burundian business women

14/11/2006 - DED and RPSF set up fund to finance SMEs

27/10/2006 - Launch of Kenya Rwanda Business Association

18/09/2006 - Signing of a MOU between RPSF and CC Africa

12/09/2006 - RPSF to join the East African Business Council

07/09/2006 - Meeting between ADAR and BDS Centers

04/09/2006 - Expo Rwanda comes to a close

02/09/2006 - RPSF signs a memorandum of understanding with NRDC of India

25/08/2006 - Expo 2006: A new beginning

02/12/2006 - Winners of business plan competition announced

On Saturday December 2, the Business Plan Competition (BPC) award ceremony took place at the Muhabura campus of KIST. During the event, the 20 winners of the 2006 bpc were announced. They received their certificates from Mad. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the State Minister in charge of Planification at Minecofin. Also attending the ceremony were representatives from Minicom, Capmer, Riepa, BRD, KIST and the Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project of the World Bank.
During this edition of the BPC, 576 proposals have been received. The winners are awarded a price worth $20,000, of which $10,000 will serve as collateral for a loan from BRD, and the remaining sum will be given in the form of technical assistance.
The winning projects of the 2006 BPC are the following:

1. Biological apiary and modern honey production
2. Rwanda Scholastic Material
3. Coffee Plantation
4. ICT Centre in Kayonza
5. Promotion of bee-keeping
6. Horticulture and Zootechnics
7. Production of Canna Flour
8. Sugira Agribusiness
9. Software Development and ICT Book Publication
10. Promotion of Edible Mushroom Growing
11. Mini Oil Mill
12. Ikambere Dairy
13. Maraba Net Project
14. ICT Promotion in Rural Areas
15. Project for Lime Valorisation;
16. Techno Park
17. Dukundisuku
18. Codeavi (Hatchery)
19. Mac Services
20. Adam's Eden Rwanda Sericulture Project

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15/11/2006 - RPSF hosts Burundian business women

This Wednesday, RPSF hosted a dinner in honor of a delegation of Burundian businesswomen, who are currently visiting the country. The function was also attended by a representative of the Burundian embassy, the president of the National Women's Council, the president of the women's association Profemmes-Twese Hamwe as well as several Rwandan businesswomen.
The group of about 20 women, members of the Burundi Women Entrepreneurs Association (Association des Femmes d'Affaires au Burundi) arrived on Sunday with the aim of exchanging experiences between businesswomen, especially in the field of technology, and to explore ways to strengthen business relations between the two countries.
The group, headed by AFAB president Sylvie Bwakayabu, has been guided by members of the Chamber for Women Entrepreneurs set up by RPSF. They have visited, amongst others, Maraba coffee washing station, a milk processing plant in Nyanza, Cocof cooperative which produces flour and milk from soy, a people's bank for the promotion of women, the fruit processing factory Nyirangarama, Bambino amusement park, and La Colombière secondary school. They also paid their respects to the victims of the genocide at Gisozi memorial site.

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14/11/2006 - DED and RPSF set up fund to finance SMEs

Today, the German Development Service (DED) and RPSF signed an MOU to set up a fund to financially assist SMEs. The agreement was signed by DED country director Mrs. Claudia Lormann-Nsengiyumva and RPSF Secretary General Emmanuel Hategeka.
The fund, which will be operational from December, consists initially of €60,000. Applications for support to the fund can be made by private companies that are legally registered, or joint-ventures, provided that the applicant contributes 50% of the project cost.
At the signing ceremony, Mrs. Lormann pointed out the importance of the private sector, which is the driving force behind economic development. She said that DED has a special interest in supporting SMEs, because they have a development-oriented and pro-poor impact, such as the creation of employment and income-generation, as well as the improvement of the competences and productivity of Rwandan businesses. She also stressed that the fund was in line with the policies of the Rwandan government, especially the Economic Development Poverty Reduction Strategy.
For his part, Emmanuel Hategeka thanked DED for its support, saying that he hoped this would just be the beginning of the cooperation between the two organizations. He explained that the private-public partnership under the DED-approach would provide capital to viable projects, which is all the more important given the fact that one of the main challenges for Rwandan SMEs is the access to finance. This is evident, he said, in RPSF's business plan competition, a total of nearly 1000 business projects had been presented (in two editions of the BPC), whereas only 30 of them could be rewarded. Therefore, the challenge is now to help those projects that have not been withheld, but that are viable, to also find financing. He added that, without private sector development, Rwanda would not be able to reach the Millennium Development Goals.
DED has also appointed a technical advisor, Mr. Heiko Hauth, to assist RPSF in the implementation of this PPP program.
You can find more information here

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27/10/2006 - Launch of Kenya Rwanda Business Association

Today saw the launch of the Rwanda chapter of the Kenya Rwanda Business Association (KRBA). The Kenya chapter had already been created in 2005. The launch took place in the presence of the two respective ambassadors, who are patrons of the associations, and numerous entrepreneurs of both countries.
The KRBA was founded in Nairobi by a group of Kenyan and Rwandan businessmen and professionals in various sectors of the economy who work and reside in Kenya. These people had the desire to create an organization that can promote investment between Kenya and Rwanda. It would also promote the business and professional interests of its members in Kenya and Rwanda and boost business and trade between the two countries. The association will work closely with the Private sector bodies of both countries in achieving its objectives.
The presidents of the two chapters are respectively Mr. Paul Ouma for Rwanda, and Mr. Philippe Nsanzimana for Kenya.
Membership to the association is open to individual and corporate members, who will benefit from, amongst others, business networking opportunities, information exchange, and advocacy.
The Rwanda chapter of KRBA can be reached through Paul Ouma at Utmost Insurance Brokers, 2nd floor Stippag House, Kacyiru, tel. 0830-2001. The Kenya chapter can be contacted at Mirage Plaza, Mombassa Rd., Nairobi, tel. +254 20-60.71.54.

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18/09/2006 - Signing of a MOU between RPSF and CC Africa

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between RPSF and the Canadian Council on Africa (CC Africa), which makes RPSF an Affiliated African Member of CC Africa.
CC Africa is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting trade and investment between the Canadian and African business communities, with a focus on capacity building. Thus, the MOU signed will establish a partnership between the two organizations, aiming at exchanging information, facilitating business partnerships and the transfer of technology, and promoting investment and commercial relations.
Lucien Bradet, president of CC Africa, indicated that this is only the second agreement of this kind signed with an Africa country; the first one was signed with Nigeria. He confirmed that this agreement would amongst others open the Canadian market to Rwandan products. "Canada accepts any product from overseas, without restrictions, except for dairy and poultry products. Of course, they have to meet certain standards." Other possibilities are partnerships between Rwandan and Canadian companies, or transfer of expertise.
What makes the agreement especially interesting, according to the CC Africa president, is that Rwanda is clearly positioning itself in the services market, and that this sector is also predominant in Canada, with services accounting for 78% of the economic activities.

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12/09/2006 - RPSF to join the East African Business Council

On September 12, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between RPSF and the East African Business Council (EABC). This opens the door for the Federation to become a member of EABC.
The East African Business Council was founded in November 1997 as an apex body of business associations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It has grown to become the voice of the private sector in East Africa. EABC advocates free movement of people in the region, formation of private-public sector alliances to strengthen SME's development, pooling of resources to develop infrastructure in East Africa on regional scale and strengthening of good governance and security.
The EABC delegation, led by chairman Abid Alam, held talks with RPSF officials led by the Federation's first vice-president, Faustin Kananura Mbundu. The discussions centered on ways of cooperation between the two institutions, which is all the more relevant given Rwanda's bid to become a member of the East African Community.
In the MOU, RPSF declares its intention to become a member of EABC, whereas the Council commits itself to adjust its constitution accordingly. Henceforth, the Federation can attend EABC's meeting as observer, and is entitled to participate in campaigns, working groups, events and top level visits. RPSF also acquires full access to the Council's services.
On the other hand, the Federation will act as the focal point of EABC in Rwanda, and has committed itself to win corporations and associations as new members in the Council. Finally, in 2007 EABC will organise a visit of a Rwandan private sector delegation to either Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda.

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07/09/2006 - Meeting between ADAR and BDS Centers

Today, a meeting was held between Maurice Wiener, Chief of Party of the ADAR project (Assistance to the Development of Agribusiness in Rwanda), and representatives of RPSF's Business Development Services (BDS) Centers. During the meeting, Mr. Wiener talked about the experiences of ADAR, which is coming to a close, and gave advice to the BDS staff as to which agricultural activities to promote and how to achieve this.
ADAR is a USAID-financed project to promote agribusiness aimed at exports. It provides technical assistance, training and information - which is exactly the mission of the BDS centers, so now that ADAR is going to be closed, the centers will have to make sure that the project's work does not come to a standstill.
During the meeting, Maurice Wiener talked about the experiences and successes of the project. Among the latter he cited coffee, where Rwanda has moved from only 1 coffee washing station in 2001 to 76 in 2006 (32 of them built with the assistance of ADAR). He also mentioned the importance of concentrating on specialty coffee, and recounted how the first Rwandan specialty coffee introduced in the USA had caused quite a commotion. As an advice to the BDS Centers, he stressed that ADAR always tried to offer a whole package; all aspects of the coffee washing station business were dealt with.
Other success stories are pyrethrum (with an increase from 800 ha of flowers in 2000 to 4100 ha in 2006) and horticulture (especially Maracuja and Bird's Eye Chili).
During the meeting, RPSF Secretary General Emmanuel Hategeka exhorted the BDS staff to follow in the steps of ADAR, and said that there is a lot they can learn from its ways of implementation and communication. ADAR has become a norm, which is known even in the most remote areas, he said, and the work the project has started should not stagnate now that ADAR is closing.

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04/09/2006 - Expo Rwanda comes to a close

The 9th international trade fair, commonly known as Exporwanda, has come to a close. This year's Expo saw many innovations and has been, on all accounts, the best trade fair held in Rwanda.
In his speech, the Secretary General of RPSF, Emmanuel Hategeka, pointed out some of the main successes of Expo 2006:

• The stands have been given a new and uniform look, which was up to international standards;
• The marketing was much more intensive, which resulted in all stands being taken (with a record number of international exhibitors) and an average of 13,340 visitors per day;
• A survey among exhibitors showed a high satisfaction rate of about 90%, although certain concerns were expressed, such as too much dust and the presence of petty traders.

After speeches by representatives of the local and international exhibitors, the guest of honor, the Minister of State in charge of Industry and Investment Promotion, Vincent Karega, pledged continued government support to the Federation, saying that RPSF is helping government policies to be implemented. He also promised that the fair grounds at Gikondo would be transformed into a permanent site.
The ceremony was concluded with the handing over of awards for the best exhibitors in various categories. The winners are listed below:

Overall Best Exhibitors

1. E-Tools
2. Electrogaz
3. Sulfo Rwanda Industries

Best Exhibitors Industrial Village

1. International Marble
2. OCIR Thé
3. Bralirwa

Best Exhibitors Services Village

1. MTN
2. Rwandair

Best Exhibitors ICT Village

1. Flophone
2. Rwanda Computer Network

Best Exhibitors SME's and Artisans Village

1. Association Twubake U Rwanda (ATR)
2. Cooperative des Professionnels du Cuir de la Ville de Kigali (Coopcvk)

Best Exhibitors General Trading Village

1. Maga
2. Akagera Motors

Best Exhibitors Refreshment Village

1. Nyirangarama
2. Palma Club

Best Exhibitors International Village

1. Kenya Edmark

Best Appropriate Technologies

1. NSIC
2. NRDC

Best Sponsors

1. MTN
2. Electrogaz
3. Bralirwa
4. BK
5. BAT Rwanda
6. Orinfor
7. Cotraco

Other Sponsors

1. Minicom
2. CEDP
3. Ameki Color
4. Rwanda Color
5. Rwanda Air Express
6. KLSS
7. BCS
8. SP
9. Kobil
10. Gemeca
11. Urwibutso Nyirangarama
12. Sulfo Rwanda

Partners

1. National Police
2. Rwanda Revenue Authority
3. Croix Rouge
4. Immigration
5. Links
6. GR8 Relations

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02/09/2006 - RPSF signs a memorandum of understanding with NRDC of India

With Expo 2006 drawing to a close, and as a logical conclusion of the significant Indian participation in it, the Rwanda Private Sector Federation (RPSF) has signed, on Saturday 2 September 2006, a memorandum of agreement with the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) of India.
NRDC is an Indian corporation which aims at identifying and satisfying the potential investor in the use of innovative, reliable and competitive technologies co-developed or marketed by the corporation. Its vision is to be a provider of world-class business services devoted to the nurture of technological ideas in Indian minds; to their propagation in world markets and to satisfy human needs.
In the context of Expo 2006, the theme of which is “Value addition through appropriate technologies”, about twenty Indian companies have been invited to showcase their technologies. Also, NRDC representatives were present to follow up the result of the Indian participation. The logical consequence was a memorandum of agreement between RPSF and NRDC, which was singed on September 2, 2006 by the chairmen of the two organizations, and witnessed by Mr. Sharma for NRDC and Mr. Hategeka for RPSF. One of the main elements of is to establish a regional center for technical innovation and appropriate technologies in Rwanda.
At the occasion, Mr. Somenath Ghosh, chairman and managing director of NRDC, said that there were various opportunities to share experiences between the two developing countries. India had already gone through the process of implementing appropriate technologies, he added, and thus NRDC is aware of the problems involved in various economic sectors. What is important, he said, is that solutions are tailored to the local needs, and are implemented by local stakeholders such as RPSF, in the case of Rwanda.
The memorandum, Mr. Ghosh concluded, aimed at bringing in appropriate technologies in various sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, tea, coffee, ICT, animal husbandry, hides and skins, among others. He expressed his excitement about the opportunities and what could be achieved by the collaboration between the two organizations.
The RPSF chairman, Robert Bayigamba, said this was a great opportunity for RPSF. He cited various sectors in which, through the use of technology, quality and value can be added. Examples are the further upgrading of coffee washing stations or the improvement of animal feeds in order to obtain high-quality products from animal husbandry.
Mr. Bayigamba also pointed out that, during the period of the Expo, Rwandan private sector operators have been very interested by the Indian presence and that several commercial deals had been concluded. This clearly showed the need for further collaboration and exchange of experiences. Concerning the agreement, the RPSF chairman said that early next year the preliminary phase should be concluded, and fields of intervention clearly defined, after which RPSF should mobilize the funds to establish the center. One of the main achievements of this, he stressed should be the establishment of a regional center for technical innovation and appropriate technologies.

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25/08/2006 - Expo 2006: A new beginning

This Friday, President Paul Kagame has officially opened the Rwanda International Trade Fair, better known as Expo 2006. It is the ninth consecutive year that the exhibition is organized, but this year’s trade fair is in every respect a new beginning for the Expo.
Expo 2006 has attracted more than 250 exhibitors: 187 local enterprises (a 20% growth compared to last year) and 85 foreigners (a 67% increase), coming mostly from East African and neighboring countries, but also from Egypt, Ghana, India and the USA. In his opening speech, President Kagame indicated that this significant increase in exhibitors is proof that the confidence in Rwanda and its economy is finally restored.
No doubt that the exhibitors have also been attracted by the much improved facilities. Indeed, since last year the Expo takes place on permanent ground in Gikondo/Kigali, and this year a lot of effort has been made to improve the infrastructure: the terrain has been leveled, permanent water, electricity and sanitary infrastructure has been put in place. Also, uniform pavilions have been erected, organized in villages where businesses of the same line of trade are grouped (ICT, services, agriculture, etc.). According to the RPSF Secretary General, Emmanuel Hategeka, this not only promotes a spirit of competitiveness, but it also encourages the exchange of ideas, and the creation of alliances to tackle markets too big for a single company.
The theme of Expo 2006 is “Value addition through appropriate technology”. As Emmanuel Hategeka explained, the theme was chosen because Rwandan companies cannot afford to remain at the bottom of the value chain in a fast moving business world. For this reason, over 20 Indian companies have been invited to showcase services and products; in coming years, other countries such as China and Korea might do the same.
Mr. Kagame, on his part, said that value addition and the use of appropriate technology could not be more urgent, given the context of regional integration. Products and services, he said, can only be competitive if they meet international standards and have an international appeal.
The President insisted that, besides being a place to exhibit products and services, the International Trade Fair also offers an occasion for Rwandan entrepreneurs to establish contacts that might enable them to diversify their market access. He also reminded the audience that the private sector lies at the heart of Rwanda’s development master-plan Vision 2020, and challenged private sector institutions, especially RPSF, to take the lead in economic growth.
Mr. Kagame added that it is high time that the informal sector graduates in the formal sector, and SME’s in large companies; he promised that Government would work hand in hand with the private sector to achieve this objective.
As an example of the Government’s commitment to the private sector, it has to be noted that, besides the Head of State, a great number of Ministers and other government officials attended the opening ceremony. Also, there was an impressive representation of the foreign diplomatic corps. This is clearly a strong signal of their support to the private sector in becoming the engine of economic growth and, it might be said in all modesty, a recognition of RPSF’s effort to become more efficient, credible and stronger, a worthy representative of the private sector.

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