MEMBERS OF the business community have been urged to uphold Rwandan core values, embrace patriotism and meet their tax obligations to help fast-track national development.

The minister for Trade and Industry Francois Kanimba, said this while addressing members of the business community from Western Province on Sunday.

This was at the closure of the civic training provided by the National Itorero Commission.

Over 2,800 members of the private sector have attended Itorero over the last few months.

During the training, participants are briefed on Rwandan core values and their role in national development.

"Itorero has been instrumental in instilling core national values among business people. It helped them understand what the country needs from them.

"We also had the opportunity for us to discuss with members of the private sector the country’s challenges in terms of economic development,” said Kanimba.

"If you go through their performance contracts, you realise their commitment to help build the nation through concerted effort. They also expressed their commitment to paying taxes regularly, increase country’s exports, we are optimistic that these will help contribute to Rwanda’s development.”

Kanimba hailed the group for dedicating time to attend the training despite their busy schedules.

Noting that the private sector has played a tremendous contribution toward Rwanda’s development, the minister urged the group to keep the momentum to ensure that the country achieves its target of 11.5 per cent growth rate envisaged under the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy.

"We don’t want business people operating only locally; we want you to engage in  international businesses. Rwanda has an exports gap and you are the ones to fill it,” he said.

"Uphold integrity and professionalism, abide by commercial laws and respect tax obligations– a business person who evades taxes and has no business plan has no vision,” the minister told the participants.

He pointed to the government target of creating over 200,000 jobs per year, and urged the business community to help government realise this goal by mentoring small scale entrepreneurs and the youth. Businesses pledged to pay their rightful role.

"We are committed to joining hands as we embark on big projects, there is Kivu Investment Group and other investment groups are in the pipeline

"We are ready to establish a three year strategic plan to boost economic development, among other things,” Marie Germaine Niyonshuti, one of the participants, said.

She added that they would seek to work with their counterparts in the East African Community and the Economic Community of Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL), on cross-border projects.