Belgian rally ace to invest $100m in Rwandan businesses

Jean Francois Desmare, a Belgian national, has invested (Frw55 million) in an insurance business and a call centre in Rwanda.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Jean Francois Desmare, a Belgian national, has invested (Frw55 million) in an insurance business and a call centre in Rwanda.

Desmare who navigates in several rally circuits in Rwanda said that he has intentions to increase investments in ICT and insurances businesses he holds a stake, to more than $250,000 (Frw137.5 million) and also expand operations to other East African countries.

Desmare controls a major stake in AfrikaRisk, an insurance company and UniCall, an ICT call centre. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of AfrikaRisk.

UniCall is a provider of telecommunications voice and data products and services for the business community, specializing in telephony, Internet and broadband solutions.

He said that AfrikaRisk is in partnership with RVA SA, a Belgium based insurance broker to provide insurance consultancy services, valuation and social security to small and medium enterprises.

Desmare, said his company is set to provide insurance policies which cover management of assets, investments, life/death insurance and the optimization of pension.

"AfrikaRisk and RVA will enable our clients to profit from a personalized study with high added value,” he added. 

Apart from the insurance firm, Desmare has also opened a call centre, UniCall, which he says will help in contacting and accessing the needs of the AfrikaRisk clients on a daily basis.

Unicall which has operations in Marrakech, Morocco is expanding into Rwanda, a move which Desmare expects to reap from Rwanda’s growing business opportunities.

"It is cost-effective and it will ease communications in our insurance firm (Afrika Risk), provide fast, reliable, internet access and high-speed connectivity to our customers,” Desmare said.

UniCall which has opened its offices at Hotel Milles Collines will also provide Internet services ranging from simple e-mail to web hosting facilities.

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