The delegation from the Rwanda ICT Chamber that was in Congo Brazzaville last week identified a number business opportunities in the country’s ICT market.David Karuletwa, the chief operating officer at RSwicth, a firm that facilitates electronic payment, said Congo is a viable investment destination for Rwandan IT firms. “Individual companies have identified areas they can invest in according to their specialisations and interests,” he noted.“It was also good sharing our experiences with firms in Brazzaville and for them to learn from us how they replicate the progress we have made in ICT sector in their country,” Karuletwa said.Asked why they are rushing to Brazzaville when they have not yet exhausted the local market, Karuletwa said the two markets can be served simultaneously, arguing the ICT opportunities the country offers cannot be ignored. Alex Ntale, the ICT Chamber director, said the chamber was working with the regulator in Congo Brazaville to put enabling systems in place to ease the process of opening up businesses in the country. “We are working to put in place systems that will support Rwandan business to enable them establish business in Brazzaville easily,” he noted.Ambassador Amandin Rugira urged other sectors to exploit the Brazzavile market, especially following bilateral agreements between the two countries. “This has been the first sector to seek business opportunities in Congo Brazzaville following the signing of the agreement, other sectors like agriculture and health will follow... we are ready to make the necessary arrangements for those sectors,” he said.The trip, organised in partnership with the government and the Congo Chamber of Commerce, saw 22 Rwandan ICT companies present their products to over 50 firms in Brazzaville with the aim of forming partnerships that could see Rwanda export ICT products to the country.
