Author: Olga I. Ishimwe

This is particularly true when one considers that in 2013, Kigali Serena Hotel was the only five-star facility in the hospitality industry. Since then, Rwanda has risen among the leading foreign direct investment (FDI) destinations in the region, and even beyond.

Five years ago, the government of Rwanda set out to establish foundations for the Meetings Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) promotion with the aim of becoming Africa’s newest darling in the sector.

Given the upward trajectory on the macro front, good governance, great policies for doing business and the fact that it is a growing MICE and conference destination, Rwanda quickly became the region’s leading choice of investment for a number of international hotel brands.

In 2016 Rwanda started reaping what it had so tediously sown in the MICE sector.

Radisson Blu launched a new Kigali complex in 2016, a 292-room luxury hotel together with Kigali Convention Center, which was unveiled just in time for the 2016 African Union Summit from which it earned $4.2 million, according to Rwanda Development Board.

The International brand joined a slew of other hotel chains that found in Rwanda, a new travel and conferences hotspot.

Rezidor Hotel Group’s Radisson Blu, a five star complex with 292 rooms and conference facilities that can host more than 5,000 guests opened shop, hosting several international meetings, attracting foreign exchange, boosting national pride and tourism.

Kigali Marriott Hotel which is part of Marriot Hotels International chains followed suit. It is a five-star hotel and the first ground-up Marriott hotel in Sub-Saharan Africa with 254 rooms and suites spread across eight floors with the capacity to accommodate over 650 guests.

Park Inn by Radisson, a four-star hotel by Rezidor Hotel Group located in the cool shades of Kiyovu offers 161 rooms in different types including suites, superior and standard rooms.

Hilton Hotels and Resorts, another Global hotel chain took over Ubumwe Grande Hotel, which is located within the heart of Kigali. The facility that is currently undergoing some changes will be rebranded as DoubleTree by Hilton Kigali City Centre.

Africa’s largest hotel group, the Protea Hospitality Group is set to open a grand hotel in Rusizi District by name of ‘Protea Kivu Marina Resort Hotel’. The group has over 116 hotels in its portfolio, in several parts of the continent such as South-Africa, Zambia, Nigeria, Namibia, Malawi, Uganda and Tanzania.

Another International brand known as Starwood Hotels & Resort, more popular as Sheraton, announced its entry in Rwanda’s hospitality industry with a facility to be built in Gasabo District this year. It will be the fiftieth hotel of the group and will consist of 136 rooms.

Other important international brands with a foot in Rwanda are Golden Tulip, Onomo Hotel, Serena Group of Hotels, Marasa and Swiss International Hotels & Resort, popular in Asia, Europe and America.

All these international hotel brands are establishing in Rwanda with the aim of grabbing a portion of the regional conferencing pie as the country progressively defined itself, making MICE the base of tourism industry.

High-end luxurious facilities such as Fatima Hotel, Bisate Eco Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, CityBlu Epic Hotel are also hitting their marks in the country’s hospitality industry.

MICE tourism segment’s impact on Rwanda’s Development

Since the launch of MICE in 2014, Rwanda has hosted tens of thousands of regional and international conference guests among who are many that visit several tourism destinations across the country.

According to Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwanda received 1,298,000 visitors in 2016, up from 666 000 visitors in 2010, indicating that the long-term outlook to the country’s MICE tourism segment is now very vibrant. Furthermore, in 2016 alone, the MICE tourism segment contributed to the $404 million Rwanda earned in revenues.

Last year (2017), Rwanda hosted over 169 international meetings, recording 28,308 delegates, hence an indirect support for the service providers such as hotels, lodges, restaurants and Rwanda Air.

The blooming MICE sector is an unmistakable vote of confidence in the reforms Rwanda has been undertaking over the years in its bid to revitalize an economy that almost everybody believed was in limbo after the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.

Gatare who was giving a key note address during the presentation of findings of a three-year research project on “Women in Artisanal and Small Scale Mining in Central and East Africa: Empowerment Challenges and Possibilities,” noted that a number of barriers that hinder women participation in the mining sector are rooted in traditional subjugation of women rights, a practice that Rwanda has unwaveringly worked to eliminate.

“Although Rwanda is a country that puts emphasis on gender equality, where situation analysis is regularly conducted to identify gender gaps and propose affirmative action to fill them; We are conscious that we still have a long way to go to reach equal footing in all sectors. Nevertheless, we are confident that we shall make changes given time and hard work, ” he said.

The three-year research project led by IMPACT (formerly Partnership Africa Canada), Canada’s Carleton University, the Development Research and Social Policy Analysis Centre (DRASPAC) and Women in/and Mining Organisation (WIAMO), explored women’s livelihoods in the artisanal mining of 3Ts (tin, tantalum, tungsten) and gold within Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.

During a conference held today, 6th December, researchers presented their research findings on the challenges women face in the artisanal and small scale mining sector and opportunities for their empowerment.

Policymakers from the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, Ministries of Local Government, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, women and men miners, private sector, and civil society were taken through how gender inequality limits women’s contribution in the artisanal and small scale mining sector and their potential as economic and social actors.

Gisèle Eva Côté, the Coordinator of the research, observed that challenges faced by women in the artisanal mining sector cannot be ignored as they have an important contribution to the sector.

“There are mindsets, patriarchal norms and cultural lag that hold back women’s full participation in Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM); even though surveyed women describe the the job as “good and satisfying” and only seek improved work conditions.”

Among different barriers observed during the research, women’s voices are not represented in the country’s mining laws and policies. Women also face inequality at the mine sites—preventing them from taking on higher paying tasks or more senior positions. Women told researchers that their technical capacity and strength have been questioned due to their gender.

Researchers recommend supporting women’s access to credit, which would allow entrepreneurial activities at the mine sites.

IMPACT—formerly Partnership Africa Canada— an independent non-profit, collaborating with local partners for lasting change, transforms how natural resources are managed in areas where security and human rights are at risk, investigate and develop approaches for natural resources to improve security, development, and equality.

Among the key findings, on average, women make more than two times the income from artisanal mining per month than in other income generating activities and 72% of women surveyed in Southern Province contribute to at least half of the household’s income and 30% of these women are sole income earners, while 71% of women surveyed in Northern province contribute to at least half of the household ‘s income and 38% are the sole income earners.

Others are; despite a standardized pay structure for mining roles, women still tend to earn less than men; in both sites studied, women are largely limited/excluded from mining activities with higher earning potential, including digging and sluicing.

The report also indicates that women have difficulty accessing credit from banks because they require their husbands’ permission. “This permission, we were told, can be difficult for the women to secure, and high service fees further limit women’s access to banking services. Without access to credit, women are unable to invest in mining activities as subcontractors, a position which would allow them to move from subsistence to accumulation activities, “ reads part of the report.

Swedish ambassador Jenny Ohlsson has been in Rwanda in 2007 to 2009 as Swedish political diplomat. She returned in Rwanda in 2016 as an Ambassador with residence in Kigali. Her predecessors had their residences in Nairobi, Kenya.

As both countries celebrate 20 years of cooperation and partnership, IGIHE talked to the Ambassador on diplomatic ties between both countries.

Excerpts below;

IGIHE: It’s been a year since you presented your credentials as first Resident Swedish ambassador to Kigali; how do you see the country so far and how do you feel with living here?

J.O: First of all, I feel at home because it is the second time to live in Rwanda and I really enjoyed living here due to the atmosphere of hope and possibility. Also, when I came here for the second time, I could see the progress that had taken place and it’s a nice feeling to live somewhere where things are going in the right direction.
Personally, I am happy that my family is here; I got pregnant with my first son in Rwanda. It is very special to bring him back in Rwanda.

As you noted, Rwanda has and is still developing; what is your point of view on what caused such a change in the last twenty years?

The Leadership has played an important part in Rwanda’s progress but also I’d like to give credit to the Rwandans for the development that has taken place. Both contributed to where Rwanda has reached now.

Tell us more about the evolution of your diplomacy in Rwanda since 1997

In 1997, it was absolutely new for us to come to Rwanda. There had been some relations between Pentecostal churches from both countries but there were no diplomatic ties. Everything had to start from scratch. We didn’t know what was Rwanda? What was their culture? We started with a lot humanitarian support in the first years, we also started with budget support from 1999, and then step by step wi started cooperation with police, decentralization structure, university, institution building….

First there was one person, she rented a room in Novotel, she hired a driver and it grew from there, one woman, one backpack one driver and then we had something called embassy office which is not a really embassy and now finally we have an embassy with an ambassador which is a great thing.

And I must tell you that we don’t have embassies in all countries in Africa for us this is a big thing I think I am the fifteenth ambassador we have in Africa.

What are your cooperation and partnership plans in this second mandate of President Kagame?

I am quite sure we will continue with our development cooperation with Rwanda, but I think and I hope that it will shift a little to other kinds of cooperation like political, trade-related businesses, peacekeeping and so forth. I think Rwanda is moving very fast; there are a lot of global issues where we can cooperate and bring a great contribution to all. In short, I hope that our relations will be broader in the next coming years.

Economically speaking, where do you see Rwanda in 2024?

I’m not an economist but I am sure that in 2024, Rwanda will have developed more; probably, as it’ll be the last year of President Kagame’s mandate, I think there shall be a feeling of transition. And as I know Rwanda, the country will be well-prepared for that transition, so I’m not worried at all for that time, I’d even say that I’m optimistic and positive that Rwanda will be on a greater level.

What are your cooperation projects and plans with Rwanda?

We will continue in developing cooperation with Rwanda, but I think and I hope that it will be shifting a little bit to cooperation, political, trade, business and peace keeping. I think Rwanda is moving very fast, there is lot of global issues where we could cooperate like climate change, I hope for the next seven years, we will continue with the development cooperation but our relationship will be broader.

Rwanda and Sweden will soon celebrate 20 years of cooperation and partnership; what do you plan for such a great event?

We will have the event on the 5th December, and for this year we wanted to focus on the role of a father and gender equality in society; Hence, this is to why we decided to hold an exhibition dubbed Swedish Dads and we also started out an interesting Instagram Photo challenge dubbed “RwanDads” that will be honoring our anniversary and the winner shall be awarded officially on the 5th December.

Reporting by Herve Ugirumukunda