Author: IGIHE

These include starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency.

Rwanda ranked second in Africa after Mauritius and maintained the first position in the East African Community. Rwanda is also the only low-income country in the top 50.

The 2020 report also saw Rwanda’s global ranking drop 9-positions to 38th from 29th last year, mainly caused by the World Bank’s sudden change in methodology.

The new methodology introduced the assessment of “an active stock exchange” which was added into the protecting minority investor’s indicator in January this year. According to the World Bank, for an economy to be seen as having an active stock market, it has to show at least 10 companies listed and trading equities.

The Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) was officially launched in 2011 and has had eight company listings since. This abrupt change led to a 100-point drop in the indicator scores on ‘protecting minority investors’ compared to last year’s report where Rwanda ranked 14th globally.

Commenting on this year’s report, Clare Akamanzi, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board said:

“We continue to make bold and ambitious steps to improve our business environment and further Rwanda’s vision of a private sector-led economic transformation. While we acknowledge this year’s Doing Business Report, we note with great disappointment the abrupt change in methodology which has affected Rwanda’s global rankings negatively. We will continue to engage the World Bank on this issue.”

On a positive note, Rwanda had reforms captured and reflected in 4 indicators which strongly impacted its regulatory business environment. These were:

1) In starting a business, Rwanda made starting a business easier by exempting newly formed small and medium-size enterprises from paying the trading license tax for their first two years of operation. This improved Rwanda’s ranking on the indicator from 51st in 2019 Doing Business Report to 35th globally in 2020.

2) In dealing with construction permits, Rwanda went up by 25-points from 106th last year to 81st globally. This was attributed to reducing the time to obtain a water and sewage connection. Rwanda also improved building quality control by requiring all construction professionals to obtain liability insurance on buildings once in use.

3) In the getting electricity indicator, Rwanda improved the reliability of power supply by upgrading its power grid infrastructure. This led to the indicator improving from 68th to 59th globally.

4) The enforcing contracts indicator saw highest jump from 78th to 32nd globally. This was largely due to the new small claims procedure and reduction of court fees.

Ambassador Lomas was accompanied by the head of UK Department for International Development (DFID) Rwanda office, Sarah Metcalf.

Following the discussions, Lomas explained that the fruitful meeting aimed at improving Rwanda, UK partnership in national development.

“We have discussed how to fund Rwanda’s education sector, agriculture, social protection support, among others,” she said.

“We also discussed CHOGM due in Rwanda and how we envisage continued collaboration. We had fruitful discussions and promised Premier Ngirente, UK support to Rwanda,” added Lomas.

The Minister of Cabinet Affairs, in the Office of the Prime Minister, Marie Solange Kayisire said that Lomas’ visit reflects smooth relations rooted on mutual cooperation to private investors in agriculture and basic education among others.

“They have agreed to sustain programs aimed at achieving a knowledge-based economy. UK also has existing cooperation with Rwanda Revenue Authority in technical skills transfer,” she said.

Minister Kayisire also explained that both leaders discussed on preparations of the upcoming CHOGM2020 to take place in Rwanda.

“They usually follow up and support preparations of the meeting and provide support. They discussed how to sustain cooperation to make the meeting successful,” she said.
The 26th CHOGM in Kigali is expected to attract leaders from all 53 Commonwealth countries.

Leaders from all 53 Commonwealth countries are expected to attend.

Rwanda joined the Commonwealth in November 2009, becoming its 54th member.
The previous Commonwealth meeting took place in the United Kingdom.

The Government approved Rwf 20.1 billion budget for preparations of CHOGM2020 of which Rwf 10.8 will be utilized to upgrade the airplane’s parking at Kigali International Airport among other activities including Rwf 3.3 billion to renovate the road Nyabisindu-Nyarutarama and Kabeza-Alpha Palace.

During the forum, Participants were taken through the role of technology and how the skills gap in Africa can be addressed in the labor market.

Since 2015, the Government of Rwanda entered into a cooperation with ICDL in the area of training in digital skills to enhance efficiency.

ICDL offers training in different categories such as ICDL Workforce – Digital skills for employability and productivity – consisting of Essential Skills, Office Productivity, and Good practice modules. The ICDL Professional Digital skills for occupational effectiveness – consisting of Creative, entrepreneurial and computational skills.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Claudette Irere, thanked ICDL for the partnership with the Government of Rwanda in uplifting the skills of the workforce and the general population.

She said that about 60% of Rwandans are below 35 years old and working in public or private institutions stressing the need for extra effort to equip the youth with the necessary ICT skills.

The Chief Executive of ICDL Foundation, Damien O’Sullivan, said that they have made Digital skills training and certification a priority over the last twenty years. Presenting on The Digital Skills Divide- a global challenge, he reiterated that the challenge in the changing nature of work from twenty years back, but some current workforce is lacks up to date ICT skills which have resulted in delayed delivery of services and huge underperformance.

‘‘ICDL Africa put effort in training people, ICDL is not a western company brought to Africans, it is an international organization that has made an impact everywhere around the world,” he said.

According to Peter Maina Njagi, the Programme Manager at ICDL Africa, the issue of Digital skills gap is common in both public and private institutions leading to delays of rendered services and inefficiency.

“Nowadays, making work report can take days because of poor levels of digital literacy among the workforce. Enhanced productivity is possible if all workforce is capable of manipulating computers and the applications they use daily,” he said.

Njagi told IGIHE that ICDL Africa has partnered with different institutions and offered trainings to their workforce since opening doors to Rwanda, including the Ministry of Defense, National Police, Rwanda Revenue Authority, Rwanda Social Security Board(RSSB),University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies (UTB) among others with the aim to equip them with the digital skills that are applicable to enhance their productivity .

“In the coming five years African countries should prioritize technology to the level of Singapore that has seen a lot of development by building on human capital and using technology in their day to day activities. Africa needs to expend much effort in technology as the foundation of development,” he added.

The Vice-Chancellor for Academic programs and research at UTB, Prof Dr. Tombola Gustave, said that since partnering with ICDL Africa, the university has trained their students and staff on best practices and ICT skills needed by the job market stressing the importance of the globally recognized certificates that they offer to their graduates.

This has made graduates very competitive in the labor market.

In 2015, ICDL signed a partnership with Rwanda through the then Ministry of Youth and ICT currently the Ministry of ICT and Innovation in Rwanda with the aim to train 85,000 public servants by the year 2020. The PS at the ministry is keen on this dream being achieved albeit later than planned but the partnership with ICDL Africa has made the dream of a digital literate Rwanda a possibility.

It was revealed yesterday as the delegation from UNHCR and the Government of Rwanda visited the transit camp where recently evacuated refugees are accommodated.

21 of these refugees hail from Somalia, 153 from Eritrea, 10 from Suda and 5 five from Ethiopia. 79 of them are unaccompanied minors.

Elise Laura Villechalane, the External Relations Officer at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Rwanda said that the third batch will jet in Rwanda not later than next month.

“The next batch of over 120 refugees will be arrive in Rwanda next month. We want to conclude the evacuation of all the 500 refugees Rwanda committed to host this year,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Emergency Management, Olivier Kayumba said preparations to host these refugees are on course.

“Preparations are on good progress. We received the first batch of 66, the second of 123 while others are on the way. We shall host them decently,” he said.

UNHCR Bureau Director for the East, Horn of Africa and Great Lakes Region Ms. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, commended Rwanda’s commitment to host these refugees and giving them basics as they seek durable solution.

Rwanda committed to receiving 500 refugees at the head first of whom a group of 66 African refugees and asylum-seekers from Libya arrived in Rwanda at the end of September 2019 in the first batch aboard the airplane of Buraq Air.

They were all accommodated at Gashora transit camp in Bugesera district which previously hosted thousands of Burundian refugees since 2015 before they were relocated to other sites.

The second batch of 120 refugees was also received few weeks later raising the number to 189.

Rwanda signed agreements to host refugees stranded in Libya on 10th September 2019 with the African Union (AU) and UNHCR.

Rwanda made the commitment to host refugees from Libya in 2017 following revelations that thousands of people from across Africa were stranded in the country after their failure to reach Europe and subjected to slavery.

Following the evacuation of the first batch of refugees to Rwanda, National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), visited Gashora camp to inspect if refugees’ rights are respected.

The report signed by the Chairperson of NCHR, Mrs. Madeleine Nirere on 4th October 2019 indicated that the refugees are living in accordance with international standards granting the status of refugees having decent accommodations, sanitary infrastructures, enough safe water, tables, chairs, beds, fresh air, mosquito nets, and entertainment playgrounds among other basic needs.

He replaces Emmanuel Hategeka recently assigned to represent Rwanda in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame that convened on 15th July 2019.

Prior to his appointment by President Paul Kagame as Deputy RDB CEO, Niyonkuru worked at the institution as a strategy expert.

Louise Kanyonga who served as the Acting Deputy RDB CEO has been appointed Chief Strategy & Compliance Officer.

The latter previously headed the Strategic and Competitiveness Department at RDB.

Prior to joining RDB, Niyonkuru worked as a Country Representative for the USAID East Africa Trade & Investment Hub. He holds a Master of Science in Finance (Economic Policy) from the SOAS University of London.

Prime Minister Dr. Ngirente Edouard made the observations on Wednesday while officially opening the 9th International Conference of the African Biblical Leadership Initiative (ABLI Forum) at the Kigali Convention Centre.

The three-day conference organized by the Bible Society of Rwanda is themed “From Trauma to Triumph: Synergizing Leadership for Healing and Harmony”

The Premier pointed out that the theme of this year’s Forum is very significant for the country saying that it is in line with Rwanda’s journey of unity and reconciliation.

“Bible principles played a considerable role in rebuilding trust and harmony among Rwandans. Truth-telling, apology, and forgiveness contributed a lot to the reconciliatory justice and the restoration of national identity and dignity,” Ngirente said.

“Within the framework of achieving unity and reconciliation among Rwandans, the Government of Rwanda opted for home-grown solutions. One of these is Gacaca courts, a restorative and reconciling justice,” he added.

The Premier said that it is mainly evident in different sectors of the country’s economy where values of integrity, hard work, and transparency were used to sustain the development process.

He applauded that Bible Society and churches work hand-in-hand with other governmental and non-governmental institutions since this partnership brings about community development, social welfare, and peace in the society.

Premier Ngirente noted that the Government of Rwanda appreciates its mission in society and the advocacy for different social causes such as trauma healing and literacy.

He further promised that the Government will continue to collaborate with the Bible Society of Rwanda to inspire positive values among Rwandans.

Renowned American evangelist and the Founder of Saddleback Church in the USA, Rick Warren said that the international community should take note of Rwanda’s achievements.

He stressed that Rwanda’s achievements under the leadership of President Paul Kagame are evidencing that cooperation among African countries can take the continent to farther growth.

Initiatives such as firewood patrols, construction of energy-saving stoves, and construction of schools and health centers fall into this category. These come on top of the core UN-mandated military tasks.

It is in that spirit that Rwandan peacekeepers yesterday officially handed over a newly constructed secondary school in El Salaam IDP Camp, El Fasher – Darfur.

NUSAIBAH Girls’ secondary school was previously constructed with rudimentary materials and with a grass roof. Rwandan Battalions provided their engineers and manpower to build a modern structure with a capacity to accommodate 800 students.

NUSAIBAH Girls’ secondary school has now 14 classrooms and four offices that have been constructed in collaboration with Rwandan Battalions and the UNAMID Christian Fellowship.

“Today we are glad to receive a complete school for our students. The school will not only be used by El-salaam IDP camp citizens but also those in the surrounding areas,” the school Headteacher Adam Suleiman Muhamad noted during the handover ceremony.

While speaking at the event, the Guest of Honor and Secretary-General from the Governor’s office, Brig-Gen Muhamad Ibrahim, applauded the contribution of RDF peacekeepers towards socio-economic development in El-Salaam area, adding that, “this serves as a symbol of love and partnership between Rwanda and Sudan.”

In his speech to the gathering, Lt Col Bosco Rugema, the Commanding Officer RWANBATT 52 said that the school serves as a knot of friendship between Rwanda and Sudan.

“In Rwanda, the supporting culture is not a sign of wealth but a sign of love, value, and honor.”

Prime Minister made the statement on Tuesday while officiating at the dissemination of the findings from the Rwanda Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (R-PHIA) at the Kigali Convention Centre.

Prime Minister pointed out that the survey results show that Rwanda is on track to achieve the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) targets for the year 2020.

“This survey also reveals that a good percentage of people living with HIV in Rwanda know their HIV status. This is a good step in controlling HIV transmission,” said Ngirente.

Survey results indicate that, in Rwanda, 3 percent of adults, or approximately 210,000 adults, 15-64 years are currently living with HIV. The annual percentage of new infections occurring each year (HIV incidence) among adults aged 15-64 is 0.08 %.
Prime Minister reminded participants that there is a need to maintain the country’s efforts, improve on the approaches and become even more innovative in looking for better solutions.

RPHIA findings released include information on the percentage of HIV prevalence, incidence and viral load suppression per year, described by age, sex, and geographic variation. The survey was conducted between October 2018 and March 2019 with the collaboration of Government institutions and various development partners.

The survey reached over 11,000 households across the country, surveying over 30,000 adults aged 15-64 years and 9,000 adolescents aged 10-14 years. RPHIA offered HIV counseling and testing with the return of results and collected information about HIV care and treatment services.

Commenting on the findings, PM Ngirente said: “Rwanda has been promoting evidence-based decisions built on transparency, and involvement of all stakeholders. Rwanda is on track to achieve the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV & AIDS targets for the year 2020.”

Rwanda has made great strides towards achieving the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 targets set for 2020. Rwanda has reached 84% of people living with HIV to know their status, 98% of those who know their status to be on antiretroviral treatment and 90% of those on antiretroviral treatment to have viral load suppression. This demonstrates the country’s successful efforts in linkage to treatment and care for people living with HIV.

The key findings of the Rwanda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment are released ahead of the biggest AIDs conference on the continent, the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) due to take place on 2 December 2019, in Kigali.

{{Key findings}}

-* The annual incidence of HIV among adults aged 15-64 years in Rwanda was 0.08%. This corresponds to approximately 5,400 new cases of HIV annually among adults in Rwanda.

-* The prevalence of HIV among adults in Rwanda was 3.0%: 3.7% among women and 2.2% among men. This corresponds to approximately 210,200 adults living with HIV in Rwanda.

-* The prevalence of viral load suppression among HIV-positive adults was 76.0%: 79.1% among women and 70.5% among men.

-* Among adults aged 15-64 years, the prevalence of HIV varied geographically across Rwanda. HIV prevalence was 1.9 times higher in urban areas compared to rural areas.

This RPHIA survey is a result of a year-long collaboration between Government institutions which are the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) and development partners that include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ICAP at Columbia University (ICAP) and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

As per the Agreement, Hon. CEO and Cabinet Minister Francis Gatare of RMB and Mr. Sergey Gorkov, CEO of ROSGEO committed to develop and promote a mutually beneficial public-private cooperation and partnership in undertaking geochemical analysis of hydrocarbons samples from Lake Kivu and in managing and interpreting mining geophysical data. On this Hon. CEO and Cabinet Minister Francis Gatare stated, “This agreement aims to foster Russian investments in Rwanda’s mining, oil, and gas sector. With Russia’s expertise in the extractive sector, there is no doubt the agreement will bear fruit”.

The Agreement entails parties will jointly identify future hydrocarbon exploration opportunities in the Lake Kivu basin, collaborate to set up a certified geochemistry, petrology, and mineralogy laboratory, provide training in the study of geosciences, and develop Rwanda’s geothermal potential. In addition, the Agreement also provides for supply of equipment and services for geological exploration and mining, technical assistance and transfer knowledge, and training in cutting-edge software needed for mining and hydrocarbons exploration.

Hon. CEO and Cabinet Minister Francis Gatare has also been invited to speak on two-panel sessions at the Russia-Summit: ‘Using Minerals in Africa for the Benefit of Its Peoples’ and ‘Russian Geological Exploration in Africa: Looking to the Past and the Future’.