This week, it emerged that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) has been set for the week of 20 June, 2022. CHOGM was due to have been held in Kigali in June 2020 but has been postponed twice due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As expected, businesses in Rwanda have welcomed the latest confirmation that the highly anticipated Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) would finally take place in June 2022. The summit will further drive economic recovery of SMEs and value chains in the hospitality sector and beyond many which have had a rough two years. With up to 10,000 guests expected in this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the summit will have an impact that could see the country back to pre-covid-19 growth levels. There is confidence that with the high levels of vaccination with over 8.5 million Rwandans so far inoculated with the first dose whereas more than 7 million got two doses of the vaccine. More than one million people also got the Covid-19 booster. To make the most of the economic opportunity, both businesses and the government will need to resume preparatory activities such as those which had kicked off about 3 years ago. The ambitions will also require support to the SMEs and businesses to address shortcomings that might have emerged over the strenuous two years that could hinder their ability to make the most of the opportunity. Businesses will also need to reconsider their offerings for arriving guests aware that the pandemic and measures to curb it has led to shifts in consumer preferences and consumption trends. Ability of the local sector to adjust will determine its profitability during the summit and beyond.
