Investors wooed as Rwandan community in Kenya mark Liberation Day

Speaking at the event, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Amb. James Kimonyo informed that Kenya remains the biggest trade partner in Rwanda and that there is room for investors to cast their investment in Rwanda.

The envoy encouraged more Kenyans to take advantage of the enabling environment that includes an all-inclusive business permit acquired within six hours of application.

“In the area of trade, we are witnessing a steady increase of the overall trade volume between our two countries,” he said.

Kimonyo noted that Rwanda’s exports to Kenya include coffee, tea, hides and skins, and cereals at Sh 11.3 billion last year and Kenya’s exports to Rwanda have accounted for Sh 11.5 billion.

He said to date, Kenyan investment in Rwanda worth sh41.8 billion which makes Kenya the leading contributors to Foreign Direct Investment in Rwanda.

“We deeply appreciate the role of Kenya’s private sector for its huge contribution to Rwanda’s economic transformation,” he said.

He announced that Rwanda has dedicated this year’s anniversary to highlighting investment and business opportunities in the country.

“The ‘Visit Rwanda’ movement has attracted a lot of attention globally. After Rwanda signed a deal with Arsenal Football Club in May this year, the number of people searching Rwanda on line has increased by almost 6,000 per cent,” noting that they are confident that such a marketing strategy will bring a lot of tourists to Rwanda and sub-region.

He said, through the Northern Corridor Integration Projects framework relating to Single tourist visa, one can visit Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda using the single visa.

Speaking at the event, Kenya’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Macharia Kamau lauded the people of Rwanda for resilience.

“The transformation you have seen in Rwanda is monumental and was unimaginable 24 years ago,” said Mr. Macharia.

Both Kenya and Rwanda enjoy warm relations that are marked with close collaboration and strategic partnerships on issues of sub-regional, regional and international scope.