Business leaders, academics and experts from around the globe will today convene in Kigali to discuss mechanisms to foster entrepreneurship and innovation amongst Rwandan youth.

The conference, organised by the University of Rwanda- College of Business and Economics and supported by the Wageningen University of Netherlands, seeks to promote open and constructive systems that will help support entrepreneurs in the country.

Participants will also discuss best ways to enhance entrepreneurship through policies and innovation, Rehema Abdul, the head of communications UR- College of Business and Economics, said.

The conference has attracted entrepreneurs, policy makers, and experts including Prof. Erwin Bulte from University of Wageningen; Associate Prof. Alfred Bizoza Director of Research at IPAR; and Anne Mugabo, Director General of Labour and Employment at the Ministry of Public Service and Labour; and Prof James Mc Wha, the Vice Chancellor University of Rwanda, among others.

The experts are expected to discuss the role of Information communication and Technology (ICT) in promoting entrepreneurship, employment, social stability and capacity building.

They are also expected to draw recommendations on how to improve current policies, initiatives, and practices towards supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.

Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the Minister for Youth and ICT, said government is putting in place the kind of infrastructure that will enable entrepreneurs, most especially the youth, to become more innovative.

"Our appeal to the youth and entrepreneurs is to take full advantage of the kind of infrastructure being put in place to grow businesses and create more jobs for Rwandans,” Nsengimana told The New Times.

Government is counting on entrepreneurs to generate more than 200,000 off-farm jobs by 2018 as it is prescribed in the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2).

Small and medium entreprises account for more than 98 per cent of the country’s businesses.

There is therefore, hope that if properly trained and equipped, these small-scale entrepreneurs have the capacity to drive the country’s economic growth, officials say.

The country’s development vision emphasises the need to create a conducive environment for an entrepreneurial middle class economy and policies that will help lay a foundation for a private sector led economy.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw