British American Tobacco (BAT) has contributed Frw40.3 million for preparations of the 10th East African Jua Kali Nguvu Kazi Exhibition to be held in Kigali late this year. 

The contribution was handed over to Vincent Karega the Minister of State in charge of Industry and Investment promotion at a ceremony held at Milles Collines Hotel on Friday.

Jean Patrick Habyarimana, the Corporate Affairs manager of BAT Rwanda said that the donation was in line with increasing wealth creation in East Africa (EAC) through supporting the informal sector.   

"This sector is quite critical to socio-economic growth and development. Statistics show that it constitutes 60% of employment. If we look at the EAC as a region, what has been achieved in Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania is just amazing,” he said.

He added that this presents a huge opportunity for growth in Rwanda which has recently joined the EAC.  For Julie Adell Owino, the BAT Corporate Affairs Manager Kenya, her company believes that the private sector has an important corporate social investment role to play within its respective communities.

BAT has been a keen player in conjunction with the EAC and the Confederation of Informal Sector Organisations in driving sustainable growth and encouraging the Jua Kali Sector towards being the prime platform for socio-economic advancement in the region.

The Jua Kali exhibitions were integrated into the East African Community 10 years ago, and since 1989 BAT has invested over half a million US dollars (US$500,000) through providing financial and managerial resource to the organization of the exhibitions.

This year’s exhibition will be held from November 27 - December 7.

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