Qatar Airways has announced that it will restart two weekly flights to Kigali International Airport (KGL) from June 16, 2026, strengthening connectivity between Rwanda and Doha through Hamad International Airport ahead of the busy summer travel season.
The resumption forms part of Qatar Airways’ wider African network expansion, which also includes the restart of four weekly flights to Seychelles from June 16 and daily flights to Marrakesh from July 1.
The carrier, which resumed passenger flights to Kigali last year after a three-year hiatus, is also increasing frequencies on several African routes amid growing demand for air travel and trade connectivity across the continent.
Among the destinations receiving additional flights are Alexandria, Cairo, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka-Harare, and Maputo-Durban.
In addition, Qatar Airways will launch three weekly flights to Port Sudan beginning July 2, 2026. The flights will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday between Doha and Port Sudan.
According to the airline, the expansion is aimed at enhancing travel convenience while supporting sustainable growth and strengthening global connectivity through its Doha hub.
“This summer, Qatar Airways will fly to over 160 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport,” the airline said.
The airline has won the Skytrax World’s Best Airline award nine times, most recently in 2025. It also received recognition for World’s Best Business Class and World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge.
Its hub, Hamad International Airport, has been recognised by Skytrax as the Best Airport in the Middle East for 11 consecutive years.
The airline has also partnered with Rwanda’s national carrier, RwandAir, under a comprehensive strategic partnership that includes a codeshare agreement launched in October 2021 to boost global connectivity through Kigali and Doha.
The agreement allows RwandAir customers access to more than 65 destinations across the United States, Europe, and Asia, while providing Qatar Airways with enhanced access to African cities.
Qatar Airways will restart two weekly flights to Kigali International Airport (KGL) from June 16, 2026, strengthening connectivity between Rwanda and Doha through Hamad International Airport ahead of the busy summer travel season.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Managing Director Jessi Flynn said Kweza represents both a business venture and a broader mission to reshape the global brewing industry by centring women and African agricultural heritage.
Flynn, who first came to Rwanda in 2017 as a landscape architect working on the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, said she was drawn to Kweza’s founding idea: a women-led craft brewery using locally sourced ingredients to take Rwandan beer to global markets.
“Brewing is a $900 billion global industry, but only about 3% of those involved in ownership and leadership are women,” she said, noting that brewing historically began in Africa with women, particularly in traditional beer-making practices such as ikigage.
Kweza produces beer primarily from malted sorghum.
Sorghum-based brewing and expansion ambitions
Kweza produces beer primarily from malted sorghum, locally known as amamera, a grain the company says gives its products a lighter, gluten-reduced profile and a distinct flavour compared to conventional barley-based beers.
The brewery, which has already won recognition, including a bronze medal at the African Beer Cup for its Nzovu IPA, began with small-scale production before expanding following licensing approval in 2021. It now supplies draft beer to around a dozen locations in Kigali, including major hotels and entertainment venues, and recently introduced canned products to reach supermarkets and delivery platforms.
Before recent disruptions, the company was valued at approximately $2.3 million (approximately Rwf 3.4 billion), built on investments and brand value, with ambitions to expand across Rwanda and eventually into wider African and global markets.
Before recent disruptions, the company was valued at approximately $2.3 million.
Landlord dispute and production shutdown
However, Flynn revealed that the company’s growth trajectory was interrupted by a dispute with its former landlord, which escalated into a legal battle.
According to her account, changes to an original equity agreement led to failed negotiations and eventual relocation plans. During the transition, she said the landlord locked the brewery premises, prompting legal action.
After a three-month court process, the court ruled the seizure illegal and dismissed the complaints, allowing the company to proceed with relocation. Despite the legal victory, the shutdown resulted in significant financial losses and nearly nine months without production.
“We have not brewed since late August,” Flynn said, describing the downtime as a major setback for a manufacturing business.
The disruption also forced the company to lay off more than half of its workforce, most of whom were women, and temporarily close its taproom operations.
Kweza has since relocated to the Masoro Economic Zone, which Flynn said offers improved infrastructure, including reliable power and water systems needed for scaling production.
Kweza is a women-led craft brewery using locally sourced ingredients to make beer.
Crowdfunding to restart operations
To bridge the financial gap created by the shutdown and relocation, Kweza launched a crowdfunding campaign aimed at raising $22,000, which it has since reached. Flynn said the initiative was intended as a short-term survival strategy while the company works toward longer-term financing.
The MD, who has indicated an intention to countersue as the landlord continues litigation despite court findings, said the funds would support restarting production, rehiring staff, and bringing back key brewing personnel.
Kweza produces beer primarily from malted sorghum, locally known as amamera, a grain the company says gives its products a lighter, gluten-reduced profile and a distinct flavour compared to conventional barley-based beers.
She noted that the campaign has attracted support from individuals, industry professionals, and beer enthusiasts globally, many of whom have expressed concern that the brand could disappear.
The company is also exploring shareholder loans and longer-term investment partnerships as it looks to stabilise operations and resume full production.
A vision that “refused to die”
Despite the setbacks, Flynn said the experience has reinforced Kweza’s identity and mission.
She emphasised the company’s ambition to connect traditional African brewing practices with modern global markets, while challenging long-standing gender imbalances in the brewing industry.
“How do we use this story, this history, and this essence to grow a global brand?” she said.
Kweza craft beer,
Flynn added that continued public support has been crucial during the crisis, with growing international interest in the brand’s products and story.
“When we get calls from across the world asking when they can get our beer in their countries, it shows there’s an amazing future ahead,” she said.
For now, Kweza remains in a critical transition phase, moving from crisis toward recovery, with its leadership betting that renewed production will mark the beginning of a stronger chapter.
“At the end of the day, it’s a manufacturing business with day-to-day operations. But when you sit down with a friend and share a Kweza beer, it’s social. It’s art and science. It’s business. It’s women-led and locally sourced. We’re not only innovating, we’re challenging the market in a way that people identify with, love, and want more of,” Flynn quipped.
Watch the video to learn more about the Kweza Craft Brewery journey, its setbacks, comeback, and what lies ahead.
Kweza recently relocated to the Masoro Economic Zone, which Flynn said offers improved infrastructure, including reliable power and water systems needed for scaling production.Speaking in an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Managing Director Jessi Flynn said Kweza represents both a business venture and a broader mission to reshape the global brewing industry by centring women and African agricultural heritage.The brewery, which has already won recognition, including a bronze medal at the African Beer Cup for its Nzovu IPA, began with small-scale production before expanding following licensing approval in 2021.The brewing equipment has been installed ahead of the resumption of operations.
Addressing investors, business leaders, and policymakers on Thursday, the CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Jean Guy Afrika, said the changing global economy was pushing investors to prioritise countries capable of delivering stability, speed, and execution.
“We meet at a time when the global economy is changing rapidly,” the RDB CEO said. “Capital is more selective, financing is more expensive, supply chains are being reorganised, and technology is transforming every sector.”
The remarks framed Rwanda’s investment strategy around reliability rather than market size, with the country presenting itself as a platform for companies seeking to expand across East and Central Africa.
The session was part of the annual forum, which gathered more than 2800 delegates.
Afrika said Rwanda’s economic model had been shaped by its geography and history. Being landlocked and located roughly 1,400 kilometres from the nearest seaport pushed the country to invest heavily in logistics, aviation, connectivity, and services.
Meanwhile, the need to rebuild trust and institutions after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi turned institutional credibility into what officials describe as one of Rwanda’s strongest competitive advantages.
“For investors, Rwanda should therefore be seen not only as a domestic market alone, but as a base from which companies can serve the East African Community, COMESA, the Great Lakes region, and the broader African market being shaped by the African Continental Free Trade Area,” the CEO said.
A key message throughout the session was that “governance is infrastructure,” with the RDB arguing that predictable institutions and coordinated government systems are essential to turning investment commitments into operational projects.
RDB highlighted its One Stop Centre, which brings together 24 agencies and offers more than 400 services to investors through a centralised platform aimed at reducing bureaucracy and improving efficiency.
The agency also pointed to recent economic indicators to demonstrate Rwanda’s growth momentum. Rwanda’s economy expanded by 9.4 percent in 2025, while foreign private capital inflows reached $1.1 billion in 2024, marking a 23.9 percent increase year-on-year. Investment commitments reached $2.62 billion in 2025 across sectors including manufacturing, agro-processing, mining, and real estate.
The CEO said Rwanda is now entering what he described as a new phase of growth under Vision 2050 and the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), with enterprise, exports, innovation, productivity, and private capital placed at the centre of the country’s economic agenda.
The RDB CEO Jean Guy Afrika said Rwanda’s economic model had been shaped by its geography and history.
He outlined several priority sectors where Rwanda is actively seeking strategic investors capable of building supply chains, creating jobs, transferring skills, and expanding regional exports.
In agro-industry, Rwanda is prioritising processing and value addition to move beyond raw commodity exports. Opportunities highlighted included cold-chain infrastructure, food packaging, agro-processing plants, and export-ready supply chains designed to connect Rwandan products to regional and international markets.
In health and life sciences, Afrika said Rwanda is building a stronger pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing ecosystem. He referenced the achievement of WHO Maturity Level 3 certification by the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority, which strengthens the country’s regulatory credibility in health manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.
He also pointed to BioNTech’s first commercial-scale mRNA vaccine initiative in Africa as evidence of Rwanda’s ambition to position itself as a regional hub for biotechnology and advanced medical manufacturing.
Logistics and aviation featured prominently in the presentation, with Rwanda describing itself as an emerging gateway into East and Central Africa.
The RDB boss highlighted the development of the new Kigali International Airport project, as one of the country’s flagship infrastructure investments. Once completed, the airport is expected to increase Rwanda’s passenger handling capacity eightfold, from the current one million passengers annually to eight million.
Officials say the airport will play a critical role in strengthening cargo transport, trade connectivity, tourism, and Rwanda’s ambition to become a regional aviation and logistics hub linking African markets with global supply chains.
The mining sector was also presented as a strategic growth area. Rwanda recorded $869.7 million in mineral exports in 2025, while the sector supported more than 92,000 jobs.
Afrika said Rwanda is now focusing on increasing value addition in mining through local mineral processing, traceability systems, and downstream industrial development rather than relying solely on raw mineral exports.
Tourism and MICE, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, were highlighted as another pillar of Rwanda’s services-led economy.
According to figures presented during the session, tourism revenues reached $685 million, supported by Rwanda’s continued investment in conference infrastructure, aviation connectivity, hospitality, and high-end tourism experiences.
During the session, Rwanda also signed a series of strategic investment agreements aimed at strengthening industrial development, energy infrastructure, logistics, and tourism.
One of the major agreements involved Egypt’s Elsewedy Electric, which signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda to establish a manufacturing facility producing smart electricity and water meters, electric vehicle chargers, and power transformers.
The partnership will also include the development of a technical university or college focused on industrial and energy skills development, participation in the development and management of Phases I and II of the Kigali Special Economic Zone, and the establishment of a logistics hub intended to reinforce Rwanda’s role as a regional trade and industrial gateway.
In tourism, Rwanda signed another Memorandum of Understanding with Sunrise Resorts & Cruises to develop a new luxury hospitality resort in the country.
The agreement includes sustainability-focused infrastructure such as a solar photovoltaic power plant with battery storage and a dedicated water treatment facility to support the resort’s operations.
The event also marked a strategic restructuring of Amicable Guest Houses Ltd (AGL), a subsidiary of the Rwanda Social Security Board.
Agreements signed between RSSB, Cleo Capital Group Ltd, and The Lux Collective are expected to introduce international hospitality management standards to Rwanda’s hotel sector.
Beyond sector-specific investments, Rwanda also expanded regional cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with APIEX Benin to strengthen bilateral investment promotion and trade facilitation.
A separate strategic collaboration framework was signed with Busara Advisors to support investment promotion and strategic development initiatives.
Throughout the session, the RDB CEO repeatedly stressed that Rwanda’s value proposition lies not in being Africa’s largest market, but in offering investors stability, institutional coordination, reform-oriented governance, and reliable execution.
“We are not only looking for capital,” Afrika stated. “We are looking for partners who bring technology, operating experience, market access, and long-term commitment.”
The session, part of the annual forum which gathered more than 2,800 delegates, concluded with a direct message to investors seeking stable operating environments in Africa: “Invest in Rwanda, grow from Rwanda, and build with Rwanda.
Mmaputhi Rankapole, Chief Marketing Officer of Brand South Africa, told delegates that South Africa is not positioning itself in competition with other African hubs, including Rwanda’s Kigali.
“We’re not trying to outbid Kigali for investment,” she said. “We’re offering ourselves as a platform, the gateway to an economy that connects Africa to the world.”
Mmaputhi Rankapole, Chief Marketing Officer of Brand South Africa, told delegates that South Africa is not positioning itself in competition with other African hubs, including Rwanda’s Kigali.
Through the AfCFTA, South Africa provides access to a combined market of 1.2 billion people and $3.4 trillion in GDP. Rwandan businesses could potentially use South African ports, rail networks, and financial services to reach SADC countries and global markets more efficiently.
South Africa has eight seaports, 144 airports, extensive road and rail infrastructure, and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Africa’s largest by market capitalisation. These assets can support companies in raising capital and managing regional supply chains.
Luna Nevhutalu, Head of Institutional Sales for Global Markets at Rand Merchant Bank, noted growing long-term investor interest.
“Investors are really looking to invest on the continent, or in the continent, for the long-term,” she said, citing recent Eurobond issuances involving Azule Energy, Liquid Telecoms, and Sibanye Stillwater.
Luna Nevhutalu, Head of Institutional Sales for Global Markets at Rand Merchant Bank, noted growing long-term investor interest.
In January 2025, Azule Energy (the independent Angolan oil and gas joint venture backed by BP and Eni) priced a massive $1.2 billion international bond (8.125% senior unsecured notes due 2030), proving that deep-pocketed institutional investors remain eager to fund large-scale African infrastructure and energy players with strong balance sheets.
Following this momentum, in April 2026, pan-African digital infrastructure operator Liquid Telecoms closed a comprehensive $660 million debt refinancing round, anchored by a new $300 million Eurobond listed on Euronext Dublin that drew immense international interest and was 2.5 times oversubscribed.
Rounding out this wave of capital, South African precious metals giant Sibanye-Stillwater successfully priced a $500 million senior unsecured notes offering in May 2026. Driven by an upgraded stable outlook from Moody’s, their bookbuild was a resounding success, coming in at over five times oversubscribed by global asset managers as the company optimises its balance sheet for long-term operational growth.
On the logistics side, Mohammed Akoojee, CEO and Managing Director for Africa at DP World, highlighted operational realities. His company’s acquisition of Imperial Logistics handles one million kilometres of road transport daily in South Africa.
He pointed to efficiency gains, noting that at one platform, truck turnaround times had dropped “from anything up to two weeks to about three days.”
On the logistics side, Mohammed Akoojee, CEO and Managing Director for Africa at DP World, highlighted operational realities.
Willem van der Spuy from the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition spoke about the country’s Butterfly Strategy, which focuses on diversifying trade.
“If you look at our exports to the continent, about 60 percent of those are value-added,” he said.
This creates potential demand for processed goods and components that manufacturers in Rwanda and other countries could supply.
In energy, Loyiso Tyabashe, Group CEO of Necsa, emphasised the importance of reliable power.
“Energy is a fundamental bedrock for any development, and for any industrialisation,” he said, adding that nuclear technology offers stable baseload power with near-zero carbon emissions and has proven affordable in South Africa. He invited collaboration with countries like Rwanda that are exploring nuclear options.
Loyiso Tyabashe, Group CEO of Necsa, emphasised the importance of reliable power.
The session showed that many businesses already operate across multiple African hubs. With over 400 South African companies active across the continent, combining operations in different markets has become a common approach.
For Rwandan businesses, the discussion at the Kigali forum highlighted practical options to expand reach by leveraging South Africa’s infrastructure and financial systems while building on Rwanda’s strengths in technology, services, and regional connectivity. As AfCFTA implementation progresses, such complementary strategies could support broader growth for companies in both countries.
Luna Nevhutalu, Head of Institutional Sales for Global Markets at Rand Merchant Bank, noted growing long-term investor interest.
Held during the Forum’s Gala Dinner in partnership with Forvis Mazars, the awards honoured organisations and executives whose leadership, innovation and impact are helping reshape Africa’s economic landscape.
Spiro received the “Local Impact Champion” award for its rapid expansion in Africa’s electric mobility sector and its contribution to sustainable transportation solutions across the continent.
The company, regarded as Africa’s leading electric mobility firm, raised a record USD 150 million between late 2025 and early 2026.
Spiro currently operates more than 80,000 electric motorbikes and over 2,500 battery swapping stations, while surpassing 30 million battery swaps to date.
Its operations span several African countries, with assembly plants in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria, supporting its ambition to manufacture electric bikes in Africa for African and global markets.
Spiro was recognised alongside other major continental players across different sectors.
Cassava Technologies won the “Pan-African Champion” award for its role in advancing digital transformation through an integrated ecosystem that includes artificial intelligence, cloud services, cybersecurity, fintech and data centres operating across 94 countries.
Ecobank received the “Gender Leader” award for its efforts to advance women’s inclusion across its workforce and through its Ellevate programme, which has facilitated USD 780 million in financing for women-led businesses.
The “Family Business” award went to East African Holding, one of Ethiopia’s oldest industrial groups, recognised for its multi-billion-dollar industrial expansion projects, including the Lemi Industrial Park.
Meanwhile, Cauridor earned the “Disrupter of the Year” award for building a cross-border payments platform operating in 36 African countries and surpassing USD 1 billion in annual transaction volume in 2025.
The “CEO of the Year” award was presented to Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder of BUA Group and one of Nigeria’s leading industrialists. His businesses, including BUA Foods and BUA Cement, recorded significant growth in 2025 while his ASR Africa foundation continues to support development initiatives across the continent.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, Abdou Diop, Country Leader of Forvis Mazars in Morocco and Member of the Group Governing Board, said the awards celebrate African enterprises that continue to demonstrate resilience and innovation despite global economic challenges.
“Forvis Mazars is proud to support the trailblazers shaping Africa’s future. Through these awards, we celebrate high-performing African enterprises distinguished by their excellence, resilience, and ability to transform complexity into opportunity,” he said.
Founded in 2012, the Africa CEO Forum has become one of the continent’s leading platforms bringing together business executives, investors, policymakers and heads of state to discuss Africa’s economic future and private sector growth.
Held during the Forum’s Gala Dinner in partnership with Forvis Mazars, the awards honoured organisations and executives whose leadership, innovation and impact are helping reshape Africa’s economic landscape.
More than a campaign, Nicyo Gihe is a national call to action. It is a belief that this moment belongs to the builders, the creators, the innovators, the entrepreneurs, the artists, the students, and the dreamers shaping Rwanda’s future every single day.
For nearly three decades, MTN Rwanda has grown alongside Rwandans supporting businesses, enabling communication, connecting families, empowering young people, and helping communities participate in a rapidly evolving digital world.
Through Nicyo Gihe, MTN Rwanda is reaffirming its commitment to continue enabling the next generation with the connectivity, digital tools, and opportunities needed to thrive in the future economy.
At the center of the thematic is the “Nicyo Gihe Beat,” a powerful collaborative anthem bringing together iconic Rwandan artists across generations alongside Chorale de Kigali. Blending traditional soul with modern sound, the anthem reflects the rhythm of a Rwanda that honors its roots while confidently building its future.
The anthem was intentionally created as more than music. It is a symbol of movement, ambition, and collective progress capturing the spirit of a generation that is creating businesses, building communities, driving innovation, expressing creativity, and redefining what is possible.
Speaking at the launch, Somdev Sen Chief consumer and digital officer states: “Nicyo Gihe is a reflection of the ambition and momentum we see across Rwanda today.
Everywhere you look, young people are building, innovating, creating and pushing boundaries. As MTN Rwanda, we believe technology should not only connect people but also empower them to participate fully in the future they want to create.
This thematic is our commitment to continue walking alongside Rwandans by enabling progress, supporting innovation, and creating opportunities through digital connectivity because truly, Nicyo Gihe.”
The thematic reinforces MTN Rwanda’s belief that technology becomes meaningful when it enables people to unlock potential, transform ideas into reality, and move society forward together.
As Rwanda continues to position itself as a hub for innovation, creativity and digital transformation, MTN Rwanda says the message behind Nicyo Gihe is clear:
Nicyo Gihe to build solutions. Nicyo Gihe to innovate fearlessly. Nicyo Gihe to create opportunities. Nicyo Gihe to shape Rwanda’s future together.
Somdev Sen Chief consumer and digital officer states speaking at the launch.
Building on this growing culture of digital self-expression, MTN Rwanda has launched the Callertunez Awards 2026, a platform designed to celebrate Rwanda’s creative industry while empowering local artists through MTN Caller Tunes services.
This initiative reflects MTN Rwanda’s commitment to creating opportunities for young creatives, artists, storytellers and entertainers to grow their audiences, increase their visibility and earn through digital platforms.
The awards recognize the creators behind the sounds and messages that millions of Rwandans engage with daily through Caller Tunes, transforming ordinary calls into personalized experiences filled with music, inspiration, humor and culture.
Speaking at the launch, MTN Rwanda highlighted that this is about giving Rwanda’s creative community the confidence and platforms to showcase their talent to the world.
“The Callertunez Awards 2026 are not only about rewarding talent, but also about celebrating the role creativity plays in bringing people together. Through music, comedy, praise and poetry, Rwandans are telling their stories, expressing themselves and building connections every single day. As MTN Rwanda, we believe that Nicyo Gihe for local talent to shine even brighter through digital platforms,” states Somdev Sen Chief Consumer and Digital Officer.
The competition will bring together artists on the MTN Caller Tune platform, who will compete across three categories: music, comedy, and praise & poetry. Winners will be selected based on a combination of public voting and subscription performance.
In the music category, the winner will receive 12,000,000 RWF, the first runner-up 5,000,000 RWF, and the second runner-up 3,000,000 RWF. In the comedy category, the winner will take home 2,000,000 RWF, while the praise & poetry category winner will also receive 2,000,000 RWF.
Customers can support their favorite artists by voting through *193 *2026*ArtistCode# and subscribing through *193#.
Fans can also follow the live leaderboard and access artist codes through Callertunez Awards Platform or by dialing *193# and selecting the CRBT Awards menu.
The campaign will run alongside the 2026 MTN Iwacu Muzika Festival, culminating in a grand finale during the festival’s final show in Rubavu on 1 August 2026.
Through the Callertunez Awards 2026, MTN Rwanda continues to champion local creativity and digital innovation while strengthening connections between artists and their fans.
MTN Rwanda has launched Callertunez Awards 2026 to celebrate creative spirit.
The initiative seeks to create a more inclusive and sustainable mobility ecosystem by enabling women to access electric motorbikes, entrepreneurship opportunities, and business support, while contributing to Rwanda’s green transport ambitions.
Speaking during the signing ceremony on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali on Thursday, May 14, Spiro Chief Executive Officer Kaushik Burman described the partnership as a major step toward building a more inclusive e-mobility industry across Africa.
“This is a landmark milestone for us because women in the family are not just the caregivers. They are the actual doers,” Burman said.
“If we can empower women in the family to be mobile and go ahead and create, become successful entrepreneurs, it is going to create a massive flywheel of more women entrepreneurs.”
Burman said the initiative is about more than simply providing electric motorbikes, noting that Spiro envisions women participating across the entire value chain, including energy networks, sales, distribution, and manufacturing.
“It’s not just about the motorbikes. I think in future we can expand this partnership to inviting women entrepreneurs to become sales and distribution partners. They can run the energy network and create more jobs,” he said.
He added that women already make up around 40% of workers in Spiro’s assembly and manufacturing operations, including engineers, diploma holders, and blue-collar workers.
“The way I view this is not just about bike entrepreneurs, but entrepreneurship across the value chain and massive social impact,” Burman added.
ESP Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Eric Kacou said the partnership combines Spiro’s electric mobility infrastructure with ESP’s expertise in entrepreneurship development and business support.
“The purpose of the MoU is to make sure that we can have a more equitable e-mobility industry in Africa by enabling young women to have the same opportunities as young men when it comes to having access to an electric bicycle,” Kacou said.
“Beyond the livelihoods, it is also an opportunity for these women to mature into entrepreneurs and to support the next generations of Africans.”
Kacou explained that ESP will help structure and implement the program through targeted recruitment, training, and financial support mechanisms aimed at helping women succeed in the sector.
According to him, the initiative will focus on three critical pillars: mindset, access to assets, and entrepreneurial skills.
“What makes the difference between a successful entrepreneur and one who struggles is what they know about financial education and what they know about growing their businesses,” he said.
ESP plans to roll out the initiative in phases, selecting participants through an application process before providing training in business management, financial literacy, and motorbike operations.
Kacou noted that Rwanda offers a strong environment for piloting innovative solutions that can later be expanded across Africa.
Burman said Spiro is already committed to investing in batteries and battery-swapping infrastructure to support deployment as the initiative scales.
“This is not a sprint, this is a marathon. This is a journey,” he said.
ESP is a Pan-African consulting and investment firm focused on supporting entrepreneurs through technical expertise, incubation, and financing support.
The organisation has previously managed programs supporting women- and youth-led businesses across sectors, including tourism, construction, and agribusiness.
The Women in E-Mobility initiative is expected to create new pathways for women to become riders, entrepreneurs, and technicians within Africa’s growing clean mobility ecosystem while supporting Rwanda’s broader climate and economic inclusion goals.
Spiro, Africa’s largest electric motorbike maker, and Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the Women in E-Mobility initiative in Rwanda, a program aimed at expanding women’s participation in Africa’s fast-growing electric mobility sector.The initiative seeks to create a more inclusive and sustainable mobility ecosystem by enabling women to access electric motorbikes, entrepreneurship opportunities, and business support, while contributing to Rwanda’s green transport ambitions.The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Spiro Chief Executive Officer Kaushik Burman described the partnership as a major step toward building a more inclusive e-mobility industry across Africa.ESP Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Eric Kacou said the partnership combines Spiro’s electric mobility infrastructure with ESP’s expertise in entrepreneurship development and business support.
The agreements, signed during the “Invest in Rwanda” session at the Africa CEO Forum, bring together manufacturing, energy, logistics, tourism, and institutional investment partnerships under a coordinated push to deepen Rwanda’s private-sector-led growth strategy.
Elsewedy Electric to anchor industrial and energy expansion
At the centre of the agreements is a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding with Elsewedy Electric, under which the Egyptian conglomerate will establish a manufacturing facility in Rwanda producing smart water and electricity meters, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and power transformers.
The partnership also includes the development of a technical university or college to strengthen skills in energy and industrial systems, as well as participation in the development and management of Phases I and II of the Kigali Special Economic Zone. A new logistics hub is also planned, positioning Rwanda as a regional industrial and trade gateway.
In the tourism sector, Rwanda signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sunrise Resorts & Cruises to develop a new luxury hospitality resort.
The agreement includes two Heads of Terms focused on sustainability infrastructure, including a solar photovoltaic power plant with battery storage and a dedicated water treatment facility to support the resort’s operations.
Though the total value of the projects has not yet been disclosed, they are expected to reinforce Rwanda’s positioning in high-value tourism and the MICE sector, which continues to anchor the country’s services-led growth strategy.
The event also saw a strategic shift for Amicable Guest Houses Ltd (AGL), a subsidiary of the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB). A Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) and Shareholders Agreement (SHA) were signed between RSSB and Cleo Capital Group Ltd, alongside a management agreement with The Lux Collective. This move is expected to bring world-class management standards to Rwanda’s hotel assets.
Expanding regional and advisory partnerships
Rwanda also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Benin’s investment promotion agency, APIEX Benin, to strengthen bilateral investment cooperation and trade facilitation.
In addition, a non-binding strategic collaboration framework was signed with Busara Advisors, led by Amb. Reuben E. Brigety II, to provide advisory support on investment promotion and strategic development initiatives.
Speaking at the same session, RDB Chief Executive Officer Jean-Guy Afrika said the agreements reflect Rwanda’s broader strategy of building a predictable and execution-focused investment environment.
“Governance is infrastructure. Predictability, speed, and trust in institutions determine whether projects move from intention to implementation,” he said.
Afrika noted that Rwanda’s development approach has been shaped by structural constraints that have been converted into strategic advantages.
“Because we are landlocked, we focused on connectivity, logistics, aviation and services where reliability and speed matter,” he said, adding that Rwanda is positioned as “a platform for regional growth, not only a domestic market.”
He stressed that Rwanda is prioritising partnerships that go beyond capital inflows. “We are not only looking for capital. We are looking for partners who bring technology, operating experience, market access and long-term commitment.”
Afrika also highlighted Rwanda’s recent investment performance, citing $1.1 billion in foreign private capital inflows in 2024, representing a 23.9 percent year-on-year increase.
For 2025, he said Rwanda recorded $2.62 billion in investment commitments across priority sectors, including real estate, manufacturing, agro-processing, mining, and other strategic areas aligned with national development priorities.
He framed these figures as evidence of sustained investor confidence in Rwanda’s reform agenda and institutional stability.
Afrika said Rwanda’s investment model is designed to reduce friction and accelerate implementation through coordinated institutions such as the One Stop Centre.
“Investors are looking for places where projects can move, institutions can coordinate, and capital can become productive growth,” he said.
The agreements are expected to advance Rwanda’s long-term development agenda under Vision 2050 and the Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), which prioritise industrialisation, export growth, skills development and private-sector-led expansion.
The agreements, signed during the “Invest in Rwanda” session at the Africa CEO Forum, bring together manufacturing, energy, logistics, tourism, and institutional investment partnerships under a coordinated push to deepen Rwanda’s private-sector-led growth strategy.The event also saw a strategic shift for Amicable Guest Houses Ltd (AGL), a subsidiary of the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB). A Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) and Shareholders Agreement (SHA) were signed between RSSB and Cleo Capital Group Ltd, alongside a management agreement with The Lux Collective. This move is expected to bring world-class management standards to Rwanda’s hotel assets.
The event held in the garden of MAGERWA Ltd, a company that provides logistics services including inland port and bonded warehousing, served as a showcase of Rwanda’s shift from a landlocked country to a “land-linked” logistics gateway, with speakers highlighting the country’s progress in trade facilitation, infrastructure development and regional integration.
AGL President and Chief Executive Officer Philippe Labonne praised Rwanda’s operating environment and the company’s journey in the country, saying the firm had grown alongside Rwanda’s development ambitions despite early challenges.
“I think there are no words to express how proud I am of my Rwanda team,” Labonne said, reflecting on the resilience of staff and the company’s expansion in the country. He also commended Rwanda’s governance framework, noting, “Rwanda is an example of how proper governance can create value.”
Labonne emphasized that AGL’s investments in logistics, technology and human capital have contributed to strengthening Rwanda’s position as a strategic hub connecting East Africa and the wider continent.
Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi also addressed the gathering, reaffirming Rwanda’s ambition to become a leading logistics and trade centre under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Tonight is yet another opportunity to listen to this story of success, to listen to this story of ‘Made in Rwanda,’” he said, highlighting the importance of partnerships in driving industrial growth.
The Minister noted that Rwanda’s logistics ambitions are closely tied to regional integration, pointing to the role of companies like AGL in strengthening supply chains and trade connectivity. He added that reducing logistics costs remains a key priority for boosting competitiveness across the continent.
“We hope to see in the near future that the cost of transportation and logistics is going to reduce from 40% to probably 20%,” Sebahizi said, calling for increased investment in technology and efficiency in the sector.
CEO Philippe Labonne expressed pride in Rwanda’s team during the AGL reception, highlighting the company’s growth alongside Rwanda’s development.Minister Prudence Sebahizi discussed Rwanda’s ambitions under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), emphasizing the country’s success story.Attendees networked at the AGL reception, showcasing Rwanda’s emergence as a prominent logistics hub in the region.AGL and MAGERWA Ltd. are leading efforts to position Rwanda as a central player in Africa’s logistics and trade infrastructure.
