The UK and Rwanda have been strong partners for many years. We work together on many development initiatives in Rwanda to increase trade and investment between our two countries and to achieve shared goals on the global stage.
Over the last five years, trade between the UK and Rwanda has more than doubled, from $25 million in 2017 to $51 million in 2022. We are certain that there are huge opportunities to boost commercial ties further. To deliver this, we are pleased to be jointly hosting the inaugural UK-Rwanda Business Forum in January 2024. The theme will be "Succeeding in Rwanda: Unlocking Growth & Opportunities”.
Why Rwanda?
Investing in Rwanda makes good business sense. It is the sixth fastest growing economy on the continent and is at the heart of a large dynamic East Africa region. It has a young and growing population, able to operate in multiple languages. Rwanda is ranked as the second easiest country to do business in Africa, with low corruption and high transparency.
Kigali is increasingly a regional and continental hub. Rwanda’s global connections are better than ever, thanks to RwandAir – including six flights per week to London. Kigali has a growing reputation as a venue for conferences and events – now ranked second in Africa for the MICE sector.
With excellent mobile phone network coverage across the entire country and an ever-growing fibre optic network, the infrastructure here is business-friendly.
UK-Rwanda Business Forum
Through this event, we will bring together senior British and Rwandan policymakers and business leaders to boost trade and investment. Over 100 UK investors will see for themselves the investment potential in Rwanda and its favourable business climate. The British delegation will be led by the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Rwanda, Lord Popat, together with His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa, John Humphrey. The event will also contribute towards our joint efforts ahead of the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London later in 2024.
The Forum will provide a broad overview of the most relevant opportunities for UK investors, which will help Rwanda achieve its Vision 2050 ambitions.
We will focus on six sectors which are priorities for the Government of Rwanda and in which the UK has expertise. These range from the green economy – as Rwanda aims to reduce carbon emissions by 38% by 2030 – to horticulture – which has grown at 16% p.a. recently. We will also focus on manufacturing, critical minerals, services and infrastructure opportunities.
There will be a combination of expert keynote addresses, lively panel discussions, business pitches, in-depth case studies and networking. Those joining us for the event will get a taste of the fantastic coffee produced in Rwanda through a coffee cupping competition and be able to visit investor sites of interest, as well as thriving businesses.
Our Forum will also have inclusion at its heart. We will empower a diverse range of underrepresented groups, including showcasing wonderful female-led businesses, and ensuring the Forum is fully accessible to those with disabilities.
Come and join us to see why Rwanda is the investment gateway to Africa!
We are proud of the strong economic links that already exist between our countries. Rwanda has built a reputation as a country for UK investment, and we hope that the Forum will highlight new opportunities.
In January we are looking forward to hosting many visitors to Kigali, and seeing local firms showcase their successes. We hope that this will help to deliver clean, green infrastructure deals and investments that will benefit all Rwandans.
Background
The first-ever UK-Rwanda Business Forum will take place in Kigali, at the Kigali Convention Centre, from 29th to 31st January 2024.
The Forum will provide unrivalled opportunities for high-level dialogue and networking, bringing together UK and Rwandan business leaders, investors and senior government officials to discuss business opportunities available for each country and the business climate in Rwanda.
The Forum will focus on six priority sectors: manufacturing, agriculture, financial and professional services, the green economy, infrastructure, and critical minerals.
The Forum is hosted by the British High Commission Kigali, working in close collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board on behalf of the Government of Rwanda.
Francis Gatare is the CEO of Rwanda Development Board. Omar Daair is the UK High Commissioner to Rwanda.