Speaking at the ceremony of closing International Exhibition (Expo 2018) in Kigali on Tuesday, the PSF Chairman Robert Bapfakurera made the request to the head of government, Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente.
Bapfakurera appreciated the government’s exemption of taxes on many imported materials that local factories are using on a daily basis but said it is not clear how locally produced goods are taxed while similar imports are not, adding that the discrimination against local products is hampering the promotion of ‘Made in Rwanda’ initiative while promoting foreign products.
“This tax exemption is currently applied on imports while local products are taxed. This impedes the development of local manufacturers. Examples abound but one is the packaging materials whose importers are not paying taxes while local manufacturers of packaging materials pay taxes,” he said.
Bapfakurera added that PSF is prepared to drive the country’s economy by focusing on promoting the investors’ capacity and finding them good markets abroad.
Dr Ngirente pledged action on the taxes applied on local products and committed the government to further supporting the private sector to make it the leader of the country’s economy as it is in the Government’s seven-year transformation programme running until 2024.
“We promise, as the government, that through our usual collaboration with PSF, we shall call you to discuss issues you have raised and find solutions. We highly appreciate your contribution in creating jobs, promoting investment and the country’s development in general,” he said.
“We are committed to developing Made in Rwanda as we increase exports by 12% every year, increase tourism revenues to $800 million by 2024. We shall continue to lower electricity prices, construct roads and more infrastructures to support investment.”
Tourism revenues stood at $404 million in 2016 and the 2017 figures are yet to be released.
The Premier thanked exhibitors at Expo 2018 especially winners of exhibitors’ awards of excellence and urged private sector to improve the quantity and quality of their production.
The official closing of Expo 2018 coincided with the Golden Night, the Golden Gala Dinner, to appreciate the best investors under the ultimate business network. Eight investors in different categories received the Golden Circle Awards of Excellence. They include, Bralirwa, the Rwanda’s brewery company, and the telecom company, MTN Rwanda.
The best 10 exhibitors from different areas were also recognised while the best overall exhibitor award went to the CIMERWA PPC, the country’s sole cement producer, followed by the national carrier Rwandair and Equity Bank as the first and second runners-up respectively.
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