The Government has announced Friday that it has entered into a five-year agreement with Motorola Solutions to build local ICT capacity, as Rwanda bids to become a continental ICT hub. Motorola Solutions is one of the global leaders in providing communications services. It supplies global institutions with technology platforms in communications, software, video and services. Under the agreement, Motorola Solutions will establish a service centre, a training centre, a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition center (SCADA) and an IoT (Internet of Things) centre in Rwanda. According to Rwanda Development Board (RDB), THE investments by Motorola Solutions will be made with a view to establish its regional headquarters in Rwanda, and elevating its operations in Rwanda into a regional hub. Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire is quoted as saying that; “By signing this agreement, we are looking at building capacities and the entire ICT eco-system with unique value adding solutions. Rwanda is excited to have Motorola Solutions on board and look forward to expanding this partnership further”. RDB’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Hategeka, on the other hand, stated that there is a business case for the government to work with partners in the private sector such as Motorola Solutions in investing in enhancing skills of Rwandans and technology. “Establishing these services, training, SCADA and Internet of Things centers in addition to moving Motorola Solutions’ regional headquarters here, will further position Rwanda as an ICT hub for the continent,” he noted. The General Manager Motorola Solutions Rwanda and Region Manager East Africa, Yuval Hanan, indicated that their choice of Rwanda was based on Rwanda’s ICT growth prospects. “We chose Rwanda because it is a leader in ICT within the region and we believe young Rwandan engineers and ICT professionals have a lot to offer globally. We are excited to invest in improving the technical expertise in Rwanda and exporting it,” he said.
