Performia, an international company with offices in 27 countries and more on the way, has chosen Rwanda as the headquarters for its operations across the African continent. Its mission is to equip businesses with proven tools to build a workforce that is hireable, competent, productive, and ethical.

Marten Runow, Founder and Chairman of Performia International, who is currently in Rwanda believes in the "importance of hiring productive personnel which cannot be underestimated”. Thus, "success of every business depends on it”.

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During the official launch held on August 6, at Crown Conference Hall, Runow, a Swedish national, engaged with professionals from various sectors who have already subscribed to the concept.

His point of ponder was on the importance of individuals recognizing and purposefully using their personal space within an organization, relating it to the inflow and outflow of energy and contribution within a company.

For instance, he explained that "power” should be seen as one’s unique ability to contribute to teamwork while genuinely enjoying the process, much like a footballer who plays with skill and passion, yet also enjoys the game. These insights were among many others shared during the occasion.

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What services does performia deliver?

Performia provides "Introduction Seminars” as a great way for clients to obtain information about their services.

"What we sell is more than just a fancy computer system and the Introduction Seminar is a great way to give our potential clients in Performia a glimpse of what we are really offering them. This is a 3 hour seminar which gives the clients an insight into what we can do for them and how the system works.”

A client can purchase individual "tests and interviews”. This means that the Performia Office tests and evaluates the client’s chosen applicants and delivers their results and recommendations to the client. This is usually the first service clients use before they become licensees.

"License” is the main service Performia delivers. This is a service where clients are trained to take care of their own hiring and use the internet-based system which has been streamlined to increase efficiency, speed and accuracy in hiring.

"Once trained the client now knows how to evaluate the tests and interviews and can master the Performia system. With this increased understanding of personality, motivation, performance and knowledge they can increase productivity by far in their business. We in Performia provide them with support and quality control.”

Why Performia in Rwanda, Africa

Sename Agbossou, founder of Performia Africa, said that Rwanda is fertile ground for planting the seeds of lasting impact and sustainable growth.

"I wanted to give something back to my continent. Africa’s greatest asset is its youth; and if this population becomes truly productive, something incredible can happen. Business owners need competent and contributive individuals to grow their businesses, their economies, and the continent as a whole. Our mission is to help provide them with this essential asset.” noted Agbossou, the Togo national who has been living in Europe for over fifty years.

He said that Performia’s tools could contribute to addressing youth unemployment in Rwanda and Africa by matching the right talent with the right companies since most companies, industry doesn&039;t believe in their potentials.

"We want graduates to believe they have real value to bring to a company. They are not beggars, they are potential contributors. When they recognize their worth and approach employers with confidence and purpose, it transforms the entire employment dynamic. It shifts the conversation from asking for a job to offering value, and that changes everything. Imagine a graduate who says, ‘Here’s how I can help your company grow,’ instead of, ‘Please hire me.’ That mindset makes all the difference.”

Agbossou believes that when African youth are equipped to be truly competent and productive, the desperate search for opportunity abroad — often leading to tragic journeys across the sea — can be reduced. Too many who make it overseas end up in unstable, low-skilled jobs unrelated to their talents or education. Meanwhile, Africa’s own potential remains underutilized. Instead of exporting our youth and losing their potential, we must unlock it here, where it can fuel local growth and transformation.

Marten Runow said that he chose Rwanda because the country has taken the right path to development in an organized manner, with opportunities, stability, and a promising future built on purpose.

"We’re focused on how to make people more productive. How to hire them and build productive team. That’s all about Performia,” he said.

Runow added that the company is built on success stories from other countries, which can inspire confidence in Rwandan businesses. For example, companies in the Czech Republic showed little promise 15 years ago but are now thriving. In the U.S., a company he met in 2014 with just six people and was losing money every month transformed after training, eventually joining the stock exchange and growing to over 3,000 employees and counting.

"We’ve very few clients who are not happy with what they learnt from us. What we teach them is normally not just good for the business but for themselves and the families,” he said.

Venuste Twagiramungu, Founder and Executive Director of Tres Infrastructure, who is also the driving force behind Performia’s debut in Rwanda, said that the company’s venture aligns with the country’s leadership and Vision 2050, particularly the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), thus, there’s a need for competent people.

"The ambitions is so high. Therefore, we need exceptional people and Performia will bring valid contributions,” he noted.

As noted, Performia use Personality analysis, but also many other tests such as Leadership index, Performance checking, IQ, and others in order to find the best candidates to help clients hire only productive people, ones who will be assets to their business.

It is from Performia International all the offices around the world are managed, all system development is worked out and it is also where all new office personnel are trained so that they can sell and deliver Performia services upon return to their country.

For more information about Performia training, click here.