Steel construction material manufacturing company Master Steel Rwanda, and carmakers Volkswagen were some of the big winners in this year’s edition of Rwanda Development Board’s Business Excellence Awards that took place on Friday evening at the Kigali Convention Centre.
Master Steel Rwanda was recognised as the Investor of the Year, while VW was named the Emerging Investor of the Year in the awards that seek to recognize businesses that have demonstrated excellence, and also proved to have significantly contributed to the country’s economic transformation.
Master Steel manufactures construction materials like roofing sheets, mild steel plates, hollow sections, nails and rebars; and VW runs Rwanda’s first-ever car assembling plant in the Kigali Special Economic Zone.
Among other winners on the night were manufacturers of nutritious cereal-based foods Africa Improved Foods were named exporter of the year, "Multi-Sector Investment Group’ an agro-based company was named the Emerging Exporter of the Year, Agropy Limited a pesticide manufacturer was awarded the Made In Rwanda Enterprise of the Year.
Moshions, a fashion Company was awarded the Emerging Made in Rwanda Enterprise of the Year, cEasyHatch, a chicken hatchery, and veterinary company emerged the SME of the year, KCB Bank was named the skills development promoter of the year, and MTN, the innovator of the year.
According to RDB, the awards are aimed at acknowledging and celebrating efforts made by local companies in promoting a sustainable and prosperous economy.
In an earlier media briefing, RDB CEO, Clare Akamanzi underscored that the main objective of the awards is to encourage competitiveness among private sector enterprises and promote innovative business culture in the country.
"We believe so much that one good business should be awarded. If investors have responded to our call to do business in Rwanda, and have demonstrated excellence, they should be recognised. We also believe if the business community share their best practices, it should help increase competitiveness in the business sector,” she pointed out.
Akamanzi also observed that the culture of awarding and recognising outstanding performance will help improve overall performance as well as elevate the standards of doing business in the country.
Gérardine Mukeshimana, the Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources presents the Exporter of the Year award to an official of Africa Improved Foods. / Emmanuel Kwizera
Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente (L) gives the Investor of the Year award to an official of Master Steel Ltd. / Emmanuel Kwizera.
Moses Turahirwa (R), the owner of fashion house receives the Emerging Made in Rwanda Enterprise of the Year award from Rwanda Development Board (RDB) deputy CEO, Zephanie Niyonkuru. / Emmanuel Kwizera
Soraya Hakuziyaremye, Minister for Trade and Industry (L) presents the Made In Rwanda Enterprise of the Year award to an official of AgroPy Ltd. / Emmanuel Kwizera
John Rwangombwa, Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda hands over the Skills Development Promoter of the Year award to an official of KCB Rwanda. / Emmanuel Kwizera
A representative of EasyHatch Ltd (R) receives the SME of the Year award from Robert Bafakulera, Chairman of the Private Sector Federation. / Emmanuel Kwizera