CNBC Africa launches operations in Rwanda

A pan African television channel, business news channel CNBC Africa is set to commence operations in Rwanda this month making the country its ninth African bureau as the channel continues to broaden its footprint in the continent. The chief executive officer of the Rwanda Development Board, Claire Akamanzi believes that the channel’s presence in Rwanda would provide its viewers with an opportunity to get first-hand information on the country’s dynamic economy. “Rwanda is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and the third easiest place to do business, and therefore has a lot to share with the world”, she said. Rwanda office is the channel’s third bureau this year following Zambia and Mozambique. Other bureaus are in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Gabon, Namibia and Mozambique. The channel plans to open bureaus in Uganda, Tanzania and Botswana in the next quarter of this year.“The company’s presence in Rwanda marks yet another milestone in CNBC Africa’s brief history. By 2014, we hope to be in 20 African countries, making us the only media company in Africa providing comprehensive business and economic news from across the continent”, says Roberta Naidoo, Managing Director of the ABN Group.Director General of Rwanda Broadcasting Agency Willy Rukundo revealed that his institution had entered into a tripartite agreement with CNBC and RDB to supply them with business information.“It’s a great deal. We are hosting their signals but we expect more from the partnership especially expertise in which they will train our staff in business writing and editing,” he said in a telephone conversation with Business Times.According to Rukundo, CNBC will also train technicians to connect their signals to satellite for downloading at its head offices in South Africa.He is optimistic that being a business oriented television, it will feed investors and people interested in business news around the world with on ground information.The partnership also allows Rwanda Broadcasting Agency to air some CNBC Africa programmes and sharing of revenues of commercials at the rate of 40 per cent and 60 per cent respectively. All programmes will be broadcast in English. Rwanda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Vincent Karega, commended the decision by CNBC management to open a bureau in the country. “We are a country rising from the ashes of the 1994 Genocide but steadily burying our dark past and creating a new era of hope. CNBC Africa’s presence will help us to tell our story of growth and transformation to the world and also bring to us the global economic dynamics,” he said in a statement.He pledged his support to make the partnership a success.CNBC Africa delivers information and insight analysis about global business and Africa’s financial markets from an African perspective.

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CNBC Africa launches operations in Rwanda