Rwanda’s Capital Market Authority (CMA) has joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 2020 World Investor Week, an internationally recognized series of events aimed at promoting investor education and protection. This year, CMA seeks to guide current and future investors to help them make informed financial decisions since a “well-informed investor is a well-protected investor”. The World Investor Week (WIW) is an initiative of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) of which Rwanda is an associate member. From October 5 to 11, 2020 this year marks the annual event’s fourth edition which attracted more participating organizations than ever before. A key objective of the WIW is to encourage IOSCO members, international organizations, and other relevant parties to coordinate their activities to promote investor education and protection while also delivering key messages for all investors to help them make sound investment decisions. Part of this year’s campaign is to warn investors not to be tempted to invest in risky products by misleading information. “This year, CMA Rwanda joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2020 World Investor Week to highlight the importance of investor education and protection, and to foster learning opportunities for investors,” said Eric Bundugu, acting Executive Director of CMA Rwanda. Bundugu added that “CMA Rwanda plans to conduct various digital investor education activities to create awareness among investors on the importance and benefits of embracing the savings and investment culture aimed at promoting greater and regular retail participation in the local capital market.” To bridge the financial literacy gap, CMA Rwanda has committed to carry out a regular number of public education and awareness initiatives targeting retail investors. The regulatory body has also facilitated forums to increase retail investors’ participation in saving and investing through various products available on the local capital market including bonds and stocks. Due to the Covid-19 health restrictions and guidelines, this year’s campaign will be conducted through various broadcast and online media platforms. It will focus on educating and exposing the general public to the capital market ecosystem and the role of licensed market intermediaries as key players in developing the Rwandan capital market industry.
