Rwanda Internet and Technology Alliance (RICTA) has launched a nationwide campaign to encourage local businesses to embrace doing business online, adding impetus to the country’s push for e-commerce. The campaign, which targets more than 500 local micro-enterprises and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), is expected to boost the country’s digital landscape. Ghislain Nkeramugaba, RICTA’s Chief Executive, challenged SMEs to embrace the .RW Internet domain to enhance the country’s profile in the digital arena. With over 100,000 registered businesses, only a handful enjoy online presence through doing business. “Recent statistics prove that one sector that is going to drive the next phase of the Internet boom and also improve Rwanda’s digital landscape is e-commerce; doing business electronically without the seller and the buyer being in physical contact,” Nkeramugaba added. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), ecommerce globally grew by 36 per cent to $25 trillion over the last three years. UNCTAD has called upon African governments to come up with legislation to support this sector of trade as well as encourage more home-grown e-commerce platforms. Today, Rwanda hosts a number of e-commerce platforms, among them, Jumia, Gurisha and e-Haho, while global platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba and e-bay continue to dominate the market. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
