Author: Publisher

{For the second year in a row, Educat is hosting an entrepreneurship competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week. The winner will receive a cash prize of 4 million RWF sponsored by Fina Bank, and an airline ticket courtesy of KLM.
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Yesterday 5th Nov. 2013, Educat hosted the launch of the 2013 REAL Fina Bank Entrepreneurship Award. The event was used to reveal Fina Bank as the primary sponsor of the Award, as well as their cash prize contribution amount of 4 million RWF.

Educat also took the opportunity to celebrate their two new partnerships: one with Sweden, who has invested substantially in Educat’s work with private sector development, and one with KLM, who will enable young entrepreneurs who are part of Educat programming to travel internationally to meet with investors, experts in their field, and potential partners.

The 2013 REAL Fina Bank Entrepreneurship Award will take place during Global Entrepreneurship Week from 18-24 November, and this year’s Award participants will undergo an intensive week of training that will culminate in an Educat sponsored event where their respective business idea will be pitched to a panel of judges. The winner of the 2013 REAL Fina Bank Entrepreneurship Award will win a 4 million RWF cash prize courtesy of Fina Bank, a flight ticket courtesy of KLM for a trip that will directly benefit their business, free access to Educat’s REAL Business Accelerator program, access to “hot desk” space for a six-month period, and mentorship from Grow Movement consultants.

The partnership between Educat and Fina Bank was announced by the CEO of Educat, Andreas Norlem Christiansen. Aimable Mumararungu, Head of Retail at Fina Bank, then presented a speech in which he explained the importance of Fina Bank being directly able to contribute to private sector growth in Rwanda.

The keynote address was given by Alex Ruzibukira, Director General for Industry & SME Development. Mr. Ruzibukira discussed the mutually beneficial partnership between Educat and MINICOM, and described how each entity kept the other accountable, thus contributing to the quality of the work of each.

Live music was provided throughout the evening by the Rwandan guitarist Cubaka.

{Bugesera- Ntawuhiganayo Yohani, 25, committed suicide in Rango Cell, Mareba Sector in Bugesera District.
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Ntawuhiganayo’s death was reported after his family found him hanging lifeless with a rope tied around his neck.

Speaking to IGIHE, Nduwamungu Jean Pierre, the father of the deceased, said his son was mentally ill and was taking drugs, including marijuana.

He revealed that Ntawuhiganayo’s death followed his recent release from prison, he was incarcerated for a month due to drug abuse.

Prior to the suicide, the deceased had an outburst of anger towards his parents and threatened to harm them with a stick and machete. The parents, who were afraid of their son, ran to their neighbors to seek refuge. When the parents returned home from this ordeal, they found their son hanging on a rope dead inside the house.

The executive Secretary of Rango Cell, Rwiririza Jean Pierre, asks residents to approach their leaders to help them solve their disputes before engaging in quarrels that may lead them to the point of committing suicide.

{As the mining sector steadily becomes one of Rwanda’s biggest foreign exchange earners, the government has now issued the first International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Mineral Export Certificate.}

This development is expected to make the already flourishing sector which is estimated to have fetched about $136.6m (approximately Rwf86.7b) in 2012 work even better. The government targets $407m (approximately Rwf268.6b) from mineral exports by 2017. Currently mining comes second to tourism in foreign exchange earnings.

Announcing the issuance of the first certificate at Rutongo Mines limited in Rulindo District Today, State Minister in charge of Mining, Evode Imena, said that it is Rwanda’s national goal to develop an industry that is modern, efficient and responsive to global mineral markets.

Imena says that Rwanda participated in the designing of the ICGLR Regional Mineral Certification Mechanism and integrated it into its legal framework in April 2012. “We have put in place all requirement expected of member states, to implement the ICGLR Regional Certification Mechanism,” said Minister Imena.

According to a government statement an Analytical Finger Printing (AFP) database from about 300 mine sites in the county is now available and will be used by the Independent Mineral Chain Auditor when the procedure becomes operational.

The ICGLR mineral tracking and certification scheme was established to find a solution to the problem of illicit trade in Tungsten, Tin, Tantalum and Gold.

Though Illegal mining is very limited in Rwanda, some thieves try to sell minerals from mines for which they don’t have licences. However, on several occasions, the collaboration of security forces has seen most of the illegally-mined minerals seized and handed back to the rightful miners.

The new ICGLR mineral tracking and certification scheme is expected to provide for sustainable conflict- free mineral chains in and between member states of the international conference on the great lakes.

It will also promote the mineral sector by establishing common regional standards for transparency working conditions, environmental performance and community consultation.

A certificate accompanies each exported shipment of designated minerals that has been certified. The ICGLR certificate serves as the assurance to purchasers that a mineral shipment is conflict free and meets all other ICGLR standards.

Member states must examine each export of designated material including all the supporting documentation concerning chain of custody and mine of origin before issuing a certificate.

In Rwanda mining sector includes 548 mine sites with cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore) and coltan (tantalum ore) the most important minerals mined and traded in Rwanda.

{{RwandaEye}}

{African Business magazine in partnership with brand Africa, Brand Finance Africa and TNS released the full results of their exclusive survey highlighting a full listing of Africa’s most valuable brands.}

As revealed last month at the African Business Awards, an awards ceremony organized by African Business magazine, Brand Africa awarded MTN and Coca Cola the prize for the best brands in Africa.

The November issue of the Pan-African Business magazine features the results of the previously mentioned survey conducted by Brand Africa in partnership with Brand Finance Africa and TNS. Further, the results are listed by country and category.

At the top of the list, Africa’s most valuable brands are primarily South African brands, MTN, and three retailers: Woolworths, Shoprite and Pick n Pay. The Nigerian Globacom comes in at number five followed by the beer companies Castle beer and Tusker consecutively.

The survey was conducted in two parts : one aspect of the study looked at the most admired brands on the continent and the other looked at the most valuable brands operating in Africa.

One surprising finding is that brands originating in Africa are not only holding their own against international household names, but in some instances outperforming international brands. While brands such as Nike and MTN rule the roost, the high ranking of expensive brands such as Rolex reflects the growing trend in Africa towards the high-end luxury market.

The rankings published by African Business have major implications as they demonstrate why some brands are regarded more highly than others by consumers. The information has been welcomed not only by the brands and brand architects but also by shareholders, investors, marketers, advertising agencies, consumer groups and the media as they provide an easily navigable chart of the current state of the consumer market in Africa.

African Business holds the title of bestselling pan-African business magazine and its award-winning team is widely respected for its editorial excellence while Brand Africa is a non-profit brand-driven initiative for Africa by Africa to inspire and unlock Africa’s sustainable growth, reputation and competitiveness.

Furthermore TNS advises clients on specific growth strategies around new market entry, innovation, brand switching and stakeholder management, based on long –established expertise and market–leading solutions. With a presence over 80 countries, TNS has more conversations with the world’s consumers than anyone else and understands individual human behaviour and attitudes across cultural, economic and political regions of the world.

{Rwanda and Burundi Police forces met in Huye District on Tuesday in a bid to strengthen cooperation against cross-border crimes. The bilateral meeting attended by senior officers from the two neighbouring countries was presided over by the Inspector General of Rwanda National Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana and his Burundian counterpart, CPP Andre’ Ndayambaje.}

The meeting aimed at reviewing the existing partnership and lay more strategies to fight and prevent crimes through joint trainings, operations, criminal exchange and social activities like sports.”

The two forces, in May last year, signed a bilateral pact to jointly eliminate cross-border security threats like human and drug trafficking and cybercrime.

“This cooperation has achieved a lot, which we should continue to build on to further ensure safety of our people and create an environment that favours investment,” IGP Gasana said.

Among the achievements is the arrest and exchange of criminals like thieves and drug dealers, and joint trainings.

Burundi has since sent their police officers for training in Rwanda, including a contingent of 200 officers, who completed a peacekeeping pre-deployment course at the Police Training School (PTS) in Gishari, Rwamagana District, mid this year.

CPP Ndayambaje, who was accompanied by his deputy, CCP Godefroid Bizimana, also echoed the tremendous step taken by the two sides in dealing with security threats and thanked Rwanda National Police its support, especially in the field of training.

Rwanda National Police also handed over a Burundi national, who was apprehended in the country last week following a warrant of arrest issued by the Burundi Police force. The suspect is said to have stolen musical instruments before escaping to Rwanda.

RNP

{South Africa’s flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), and the national carrier of Rwanda, RwandAir, have signed a bilateral codeshare agreement.
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Under the new agreement, South African Airways will place its “SA” code on RwandAir’s seven flights per week between Kigali International Airport (IATA: KGL) Kigali, Rwanda, and OR Tambo International Airport (IATA: JNB) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

SAA in turn will no longer operate flights between the two destinations. The codeshare agreement between South African Airways and RwandAir will come into effect on 07 Dec 2013.

{
The African Development Bank (AfDB) extended their appreciation to the Togolese delegation that were on a study tour in Rwanda earlier on to exchange views on improving the education and microfinance sector. }

This tour stemmed from talks between the Togolese head of state and the President of the AfDB on issues relating to the transformation of Africa and inclusive growth.

Through an initiative by the African Development Bank (ADB), a delegation of 13 people and high level Officials from Togo visited Kigali from 20 to 27th October 2013.

The goal of the Togolese official mission was to discuss with its Rwandan counterparts ideas on how to improve the living conditions of teachers.

The delegation was led by Mr. Florent Yao Badjam Maganawe, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education and included a parliamentarian, secretary general of the Technical Education, members of the teaching staff and other officials.

Togo has about 30,000 teachers in primary and secondary schools. In addition, it has about 60,000 public servants.

Togolese and Rwandan Teachers often have financial problems besides the high cost of living. The teachers’ payroll accounts for about 50 % of the payroll of the public service in Togo.

While addressing the issue of social and economic inclusion, both parties have criticized the teacher’s limited access to financial products and services with relative to their economic and social needs.

The discussions initiated by the two parties have inspired the need to explore and create a system whereby the teachers have easier accessibility to assistance from financial institutions. In this regard, the Togolese delegation visited a representative sample of cooperative of savings and credit (” Umwalimu Sacco “) including those installed in Kigali, Rulindo, Musanze and Rubavu .

The visit focused on the history, structure, operation, computerization and different products of Umwalimu Sacco and the advantages that teachers could draw from the microfinance institutions.

In summary, through the support of AfDB the 13 members of the Togolese delegation were exposed to favorable conditions for the viability of a network of savings and credit cooperatives for teachers and also discuss with their Rwandan counterparts new forms of mutual support.

After this visit, dubbed the “ explorative phase”, the African Development Bank will support Togo in conducting a feasibility study to establish savings and credit cooperatives for teachers.