More than 300 regional business leaders are set to attend the Commonwealth Business Forum, one of the major side events during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) slated for June 21 to 23, in Kigali. John Bosco Kalisa, CEO of the East African Business Council (EABC), on Monday, April 18, told The New Times that the Council is “planning to lead about 300 business delegates during the Commonwealth Business Forum.” The first CHOGM to be held in Africa for more than 10 years is expected to bring more than 8, 000 guests, including leaders from more than 54 countries, to Kigali. These will include top business executives, officials from private equity funds, investment banks, and others. The leaders’ summit, will be preceded by meetings for representatives from Commonwealth networks for youth, women, civil society and business. Kalisa said: “The (business) forum provides enormous opportunities to forge strategic partnership and conclude business and investment deals.” “CHOGM brings together than 50 member states from both developed and emerging countries and that provides a solid platform to engage and conclude trade and investment deals. It also provides an opportunity to discuss a number of binding constrains that hinder trade flows and regional integration.” Business operators in Rwandas mining and energy sectors are gearing up for opportunities that CHOGM will bring. On March 3, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) met actors in the sectors and tipped them on opportunities they can tap into during the summit. At the time, Philip Lucky, Head of Investment Marketing at RDB, said it is important for the local private sector to prepare well for CHOGM since the meeting will attract many dignitaries including investors looking for investment opportunities in the country. The RDB is encouraging Rwandans, especially in the private sector to prepare and make the most out of the meeting. The EABC boss said that business and investment deals will be concluded and new partnerships forged. “The EAC being one of the fastest-growing regional economic communities will exploit its comparative and competitive advantage.”
