A new business centre (workshop) in Gakenke District that was inaugurated last week is expected to help the youth create jobs.

Gankenke business centre is the eighth such facility, locally known as Agakiriro, to be completed against the target of 26 business centres that the government envisaged to construct in different districts in the country, in a bid to facilitate Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) growth and promote the ‘Made in Rwanda’ initiative.

It was constructed by the district in Gakenke Sector at an estimated Rwf226 million. The centre hosts members of crafts cooperatives.

Déogratias Kabagamba, the executive secretary of the Northern Province, said the facility will serve residents.

"The business centre is for people’s development. You should make the most of it. You have to produce quality products to attract clients and promote the ‘Made in Rwanda’ brand. ”he added.

Deogratias Nzamwita, the Mayor of Gakenke District, challenged residents to develop a savings culture. An exhibition hall for locally made products has also been constructed nearby.

Youth train in job creation

Meanwhile, in a bid to equip youth with skills in job creation, Techno Serve, an organisation that works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive businesses, has trained youth from different sectors of Gakenke District to empower them with skills so they can benefit from the Agakiriro workshop. The trainees were from different cooperatives in the area.

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