Government officials, investors and development partners on Thursday, March 26, convened in Gicumbi District to explore investment and business opportunities and strengthen public-private collaboration.

The engagement, dubbed the Gicumbi Investment Forum, was organized in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

It highlighted district’s strategic location, growing economy and its untapped potential across key sectors, including agriculture, tourism, real estate, and logistics.

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Gicumbi Mayor Emmanuel Nzabonimpa said the district offers a strong foundation for investors, citing fertile land, a favourable climate, and a population willing to work.

"We have a district with fertile land, a good climate and hardworking people. Anyone looking to invest will find unique advantages here,” he said.

Nzabonimpa noted that Gicumbi is among the top-performing districts outside Kigali in terms of economic development, ranking fourth nationally based on the latest household living conditions survey.

He pointed to livestock farming as a key driver of the local economy, supported by the government’s Girinka programme, which has seen cattle ownership expand significantly. The district currently counts about 86,000 cows, with nearly 80 per cent of households owning livestock.

Agriculture remains central, with large-scale tea and coffee production supported by cooperatives and processing facilities such as the Mulindi tea factory. The mayor added that Gicumbi has consistently ranked among the top 10 districts in national performance contracts Imihigo, reflecting steady progress in development.

Beyond agriculture, the district is positioning itself as an emerging hub for trade and investment due to its proximity to Kigali, about 50 kilometres away, and its location along the Kigali–Gatuna highway, a key corridor linking Rwanda to Uganda and the wider East African market.

Officials say this location creates strong demand for logistics services, fuel stations, hospitality facilities, and retail businesses targeting cross-border traders and transit traffic.

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Michelle Umurungi, Chief Investment Officer at RDB, said Gicumbi Investment Forum was part of broader efforts to promote private sector-led growth and attract both local and foreign investors.

"This initiative aims to showcase investment opportunities in Gicumbi while strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors,” she said.

Umurungi noted that district’s population of over 448,000 people and its expanding infrastructure make it a viable destination for investment in sectors including agro-processing, transport, tourism, and cross-border trade.

Umurungi also highlighted measures put in place by RDB to ease doing business, including fast business registration processes, often completed within six hours, and investment registration in about three days.

Through its One Stop Centre, RDB provides access to over 400 permits and licences, while additional programmes support investors with financing, market access, and project development.

"We support investors from the ideation stage to implementation, ensuring they have the information, connections and services they need,” she said.

The discussions also shed light on specific gaps that present immediate opportunities for investors.

In the tourism and hospitality sector, officials noted that Gicumbi currently has a limited number of low-grade hotels, creating demand for three- and four-star accommodation, eco-lodges, and transit facilities for travellers and truck drivers.

The district’s scenic landscapes, including hills, marshlands and historical sites linked to Rwanda’s liberation struggle, were identified as underutilised assets that could support eco-tourism and leisure businesses.

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In trade and commerce, participants highlighted the absence of a modern shopping complex, despite the district’s location along one of the country’s busiest trade routes. This presents an opportunity for large-scale retail and service hubs targeting both residents and cross-border traders.

Agriculture and agro-processing also offer significant potential, with opportunities in modern farming techniques, food processing, and value addition in dairy, meat, and horticulture products.

Despite a strong livestock base, the district has only one slaughterhouse, pointing to the need for additional facilities to support the growing sector.

Other areas identified include affordable housing, driven by population growth and urbanisation, as well as logistics infrastructure such as warehouses, distribution centres, and cold-chain systems to reduce post-harvest losses.

Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation, said Gicumbi has made notable progress in infrastructure and service delivery, laying the groundwork for investment.

Electricity access has reached 81 percent of households, while clean water supply stands at nearly 94 percent. Road network connecting the district to other parts of the country have also been improved, alongside the expansion of internet services.

"These are not just statistics, they are signs that Gicumbi is ready to receive investment,” Ingabire said, adding that the district offers immediate opportunities rather than future prospects.

She called on investors, financial institutions and members of the Rwandan community abroad to partner with government in driving sustainable economic growth.

"Gicumbi is not just looking for investors, but partners in economic transformation,” she said.

At the same time, investors attending the engagement urged authorities to further streamline services and ensure faster delivery of permits and approvals to avoid delays in project implementation.

They also called for more collaborative approaches to investment.

"It has been observed, even here in Gicumbi, that when an investor operates alone, the business often struggles to sustain itself. If the owner is unavailable, the business slows down or even stalls,” one investor said.

"With shared ownership, however, operations are more stable, risks are distributed, and projects tend to move faster.”

Some investors also urged the government to elevate Gicumbi’s status to further boost its attractiveness.

"We request the government to consider positioning Gicumbi as a secondary city to Kigali,” said Jean Claude Shirimpumu, an investor in agribusiness.

"Given its proximity to the capital and its role as a transit route to Uganda, the district already has the key elements needed to accelerate development. Such recognition would significantly attract more investors,” he added.

Maurice Mugabowagahunde, Governor of Northern Province, acknowledged the concerns and emphasised the need for efficient coordination among local leaders and institutions.

"No project discussed here should stall because of administrative delays. We must match the pace and readiness shown by investors,” he said.

Rwanda seeks to double private investment and exports while creating over one million jobs under its second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2).