Twelve Japanese business representatives in the areas of ICT and agriculture concluded a one-week business tour in Rwanda which aimed at fostering the business climate between the two countries’ private sectors. Organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the implementing agency of Japanese official development assistance, the tour saw the Japanese business representatives visit several JICA-funded project sites. Speaking at a business networking dinner in Kigali, which brought together the companies’ representatives and their Rwandan counterparts, Isao Fukushima, the Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, said that “it is delightful to have the first business tour and we have nine companies from Japan.” For decades, Ambassador Fukushima maintained, Rwanda has been a driving force for the entire African continent economy through its stable economic growth. “This sound business environment in Rwanda attracts more and more foreign companies and the number of Japanese participants is proof of this fact.” For Shiotsuka Minako, the Chief Representative of JICA Rwanda, the main purpose of the tour was to encourage Japanese business representatives to explore the possibilities of Rwanda’s ICT and agriculture development. It was also a time to discuss the potential and needs of the industry with the Rwandan government and private sector. “We are focused on agriculture and ICT in this business tour. This means that both sectors are of great interest to Japanese companies.” “During the one week stay in Rwanda, the representatives visited several sites such as the Project for Strengthening and Promoting Coffee Value Chain in Rwanda to see the real experience at the local market. The participants also interacted with ABE graduates who studied in Japan and JICA training graduates, who can be reliable focal points for business development in Rwanda. They have already held frank discussions with distinguished stakeholders, and I believe that today, Rwandan and Japanese business to business engagements will witness an even more clear picture of the business environment in Rwanda.” The tour came at a time when Japanese investment in African countries, Rwanda included, is on the rise, fueling inclusive economic growth, fostering technological innovation, and enhancing international cooperation. It is also boosted by the Japanese government’s initiative by Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) to promote dynamic growth in Africa. Against this backdrop, several business owners told The New Times that a collaborative synergy between Japanese companies and Rwandan entrepreneurs is poised to create new business opportunities and contribute significantly to Africa's economic development and social progress. “I have observed agricultural stakeholders enthusiastically dedicated to quality improvement and value addition through collaborations with donors such as JICA in technical assistance. We believe that our smart agriculture technology can further contribute to enhancing traceability, supply chain management, and productivity,” said Mariko Kitahama, the Global Relations Department Assistant Manager at NEC Corporation. “We visited the cooperatives in Rwanda’s Western Province and are eager to discuss with key stakeholders to delve deep into the social challenges in the agricultural sector. We aim to explore expectations for leveraging ICT to effectively address these challenges.” The company operates as an ICT provider and currently has offices in the Sub-Sahara Africa region in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, with footprints in Rwanda in the domain of telecommunications and biometrics technologies. She added, “We see more opportunities in Rwanda due to its adaptable regulatory environment and well-organized people. Throughout our visit, we gained invaluable insights into the business enabling policies, reaffirming our confidence in Rwanda’s potential for growth and innovation.” She shared similar sentiments with Koji Tokida, the co-founder at Hakki Africa, a microfinance startup that already set up shop on the Kenyan market. “I do a microfinance business and we have partnerships with Japanese banks and major investors, and while we have been succeeding with our business in Kenya, we are seeking for expansion in other Africa markets. Rwanda is a huge interest for us especially from how the economy has been digitalized and well-structured which gives financial institutions a lot of advantages of gathering useful information and quantitative data that can be used for screening processes.” He added: “I think one of the biggest opportunities is that the government is really supportive on foreign investors, and that makes a very big difference because in some African markets foreign businesses have been failing. What I have seen in Kigali is that there is a lot of structure, people respect the rules and regulations which is great and that is a very good environment for countries like Japan where we have a very strict business climate.” Asked about the size of the market, Tokida said; “Generally we have been very impressed about how it is in Rwanda. Many people say that the Rwandan market is smaller compared to the rest of the African countries, but I do believe that we should not look at the population because that is only one aspect, but in terms of business there are many other parties that make Rwanda very lucrative.” For Daisuke Noritomi, the General Manager of Ebara Pumps East Africa, a Japanese firm that makes environmental and industrial machinery such as pumps and turbines, the Rwandan market is ideal for the latter’s business. “In terms of pump business, Rwanda is a very hilly country, where you need more pumps. Therefore, we are not so pessimistic just looking at the population but looking at the environment holistically. Rwanda is actually a lucrative market for our business.” Noritomi commended JICA for facilitating high-level engagements with public stakeholders as well as Rwandan businesses. The five-day tour was organized by JICA in collaboration with Kiraboshi Bank in Japan for Japanese companies to experience firsthand the economic transformation of Rwanda and available opportunities. It was a time for them to have a deeper understanding of the business environment in Rwanda, related policies, and a way to establish industry connections with Rwandan businesspeople.
