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  • Agricultural Expo emphasizes on the use of mechanized farming

    {{The sixth national agricultural show has opened its doors at Mulindi agricultural grounds till 12 June, while residing at opening ceremony Prime Minister Bernard Makuza urged leaders to work closely with farmers and stakeholders in order to develop the agricultural industry rather than waiting experience sharing during agricultural shows.}}

    He further encouraged the use of mechanized farming especially in rural areas adding that expo was a good opportunity for leaders to work together with farmers as well as stakeholders to encourage agricultural transformation.

    The advice is in line with the expo theme {Irrigation and mechanization in agriculture transformation.}

    The Task force of mechanization and Irrigation department under the ministry of agriculture has prepared demonstrations on how a farmer can use farming machines to not only save their time but also increase their produce.

    What is more, exhibitors are demonstrating some of the irrigation methods aimed at discouraging farmers to depend on rainfall; however some famers have adopted the irrigation strategy as one of the ways to fight climate change imposition.

    The exhibitors represent 28 cooperatives including those from neighboring countries.

  • Villages yet to raise their own revenues, Japan’s way

    {{Rwanda is yet to replicate Japan’s way of raising revenues in respective districts, a team of experts from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will assist in the implementation of the program known as One Village One Product (OVOP).}}

    The program will enhance entrepreneurship by supporting business activities within a community then later the revenues would be used to support developmental activities in the same area.

    Implementation of Rwanda OVOP program will begin with 4 target districts which are Huye, Musanze, Nyagatare and Rubavu. It will expand countrywide and around 5000 business groups are to be nurtured through the program by 2014, impacting on poverty reduction through increased volume of export products and development of small and medium scale industries.

    “This is not a new concept it was first implemented in Japan over two decades ago and became and its success was mostly seen in economy growth,” said Kunio Hantanaka, Japan ambassador in Rwanda.

    Moreover, the program is expected to contribute the private sector-led economy set as one of the pillars in Vision 2020, through boosting local based business, creating employment and generating exports. It is designed as a practical, operational, sustainable and self assessing scheme providing capitalization and accumulation of economic advantages and business development services to empower communities through systematic nurturing of business initiatives and activities.

    As a result, there will be a reduction of the country’s deficit which is staggering at Rwf 1 billion; this will be achieved through formation of Small and Medium Enterprises. OVOP Program in Rwanda has three key pillars which justify its suitability to the Rwandan context: Focus on value addition for products and services; streamlining of business extension services and branding of certified and unique quality.

    “These SME’s are a vital engine to our socio economic progress,” said PSF, Chief Executive Officer Roger Munyampenda adding that, “we’re trying to promote a strong SME sector in order to increase employment at the same time widen our tax base.”

    He however remarked that among the challenges of sustaining the SME’S was due to lack of credit access. In this respect the PSF established a Business Development Fund (BDF) which totals to Rwf 8.4 Billion,” he remarked.

    OVOP is a regional development program originated in Oita prefecture, Japan in the early 1980s. A village produces value-added products made from local materials for both domestic and global markets. JICA assists many developing countries to adopt the program to boost local business.

  • Traffic week aims to discourage reckless driving

    {{The annual road safety week conducted by Rwanda’s traffic police will emphasize on discouraging reckless driving. The campaign is themed {make every journey home a safe one.}
    }}

    speaking at the awareness launch in Nyamirabo, traffic commander Chief Superintendent Vincent Sano explained that the aim was to ensure orderly traffic to all as way of reducing road accidents.

    Certainly, drivers are advised to avoid reckless driving especially those who drive under the influence of alcohol, a habit which causes the majority of road accidents.

    The police Inspector General Emmanuel Gasana was quick to support Sano by further warning that out of 365 deaths and over 30,000 serious injuries from road accidents each year are caused by uncalculated maneuvers, ridding without helmets and pedestrians carelessness while crossing roads.

    In this respect, the weeklong campaign will sensitize drivers on some of the road signs which are repeatedly ignored by some drivers, among the overlooked signs are zebra crossing, sharp corners and speed limits.

    In order to address the issue of negligence, traffic police will issue flyers to drivers showing causes of accidents. What is more there will be a reward for best drivers especially those who work in public service vehicles (PSV).

    “Road accidents have affected our economy through loss of productivity and infrastructure such as road lights and destroyed city gardens,” said the mayor of Kigali Fidel Ndayisaba.

    The mayor further encourages PSV drivers to ensure etiquette while transporting passengers. “Playing music in your taxis for instance is ok but avoid loud volumes since not everyone is comfortable,” Ndayisaba warned.

    Ndayisaba was backed by James Musoni the minister of local government who encouraged passengers to stop a vehicle once there not comfortable with the driving situation. “It is your right to stop the bus which is over speeding or inform the police,” Musoni remarked. He further assured drivers that the government has plans to provide good road networks in the country.

  • construction of primary schools receive a US$ 1m boost from a Chinese conglomerate

    {{A visiting team representing a Chinese business community has donated US$ 1million to support the construction of primary school classes; members of the conglomerate will use the tour to examine Rwanda’s investment opportunities. }}

    Prime Minister Bernard Makuza said the initiative was timely with the country’s activities in improving access to education especially in rural areas. He further encouraged the Chinese business community to take advantage of Rwanda’s investment opportunities which range from mining, tourism, construction amongst others.

    In this respect, Makuza applauded the country’s bilateral ties with china which has seen several joint operations in areas including education, health and energy.

    The fund will be used in the first phase of construction which will take place in five districts namely Kirehe, Nyagatare, Kamonyi, Nyaruguru and Ngororero.

    Junqing Lu, the chairperson World Eminence Chinese Business Association (WECBA) explained that they have a plan to build several classrooms in Africa and Rwanda was an ideal country to benefit from the initiative. “We have a 20 year project of building hope primary schools in Africa and we intend to build more and more here,” he remarked.

    In addition, the program will support the curriculum by offering scholastic materials such as computers and laboratory equipment.
    Juqing Lu further pointed out that out of five countries selected; Rwanda is a favorable beneficiary due its good entrepreneurial climate which requires an educated population in order to sustain the progress.

    WECBA is among Chinese largest business network organizations which provides services in the areas of finance and investments, management, human resources, corporate branding among others. The organization also aims to improve the welfare of vulnerable people and the construction of schools which are currently taking place in four other countries namely Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi seeks to provide education to all.

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  • RSE market highlights as of 6 June 2011

    {{Today, the market continued to go up as the BRALIRWA share price closed at Rwf 233, an increase of Rwf 3 from last }}

    week’s closing price of Rwf 230. A total turnover of Rwf 18,701,300 was recorded from 80,300 BRALIRWA shares traded
    at Rwf 231 and Rwf 233 in 3 transactions.

    At the end of business, there were outstanding bids of 1,678,000 BRALIRWA shares at various prices ranging between
    Rwf 233 and Rwf 225 and no outstanding offers.

    The BRALIRWA shares are trading cum dividend up to 13 June 2011.
    The KCB and NMG counters did not record any activity today and their share prices remained unchanged from last week’s closing prices of Rwf 175 and Rwf 1200 respectively.

  • National Dairy Board and Dairy Quality Assurance Laboratory officially launched

    {{The USAID Dairy Competitiveness (UDC) Project, in partnership with Land O’Lakes International Development, has just launched the Rwanda National Dairy Board (RNDB) and a new Dairy Quality Assurance Laboratory (DQAL) located just outside Kigali. The space was generously donated by the Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority (RARDA), and is located at the Bull Station in Masaka.
    }}

    The establishment of both facilities marks a key achievement for the USAID Dairy Competitiveness Project and Land O’Lakes, as these entities set the stage for the growth of a sustainable and prosperous Rwandan dairy industry that promotes quality dairy products and fosters an enabling environment for milk producers, processors and sellers. UDC also recently established a purchasing agreement with Inyange Processors that will pay farmers and milk collection centers working through the project with higher premiums for raw milk that meets quality standards, which will be checked through DQAL.

    A number of Rwandan and U.S. government officials attended the event, as did a wide array of Rwandans from across the dairy sector. Among the speakers included U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda Stuart Symington, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resource’s Permanent Secretary Ernest Ruzindaza, Rwanda National Dairy Board Chairman Emmanuel Ndahiro, and Land O’Lakes International Development’s Country Manager for Rwanda, Dave Peters. Over 100 people were in attendance to celebrate the launch, including officials from USAID and members of Rwanda’s Dairy Sector Working Group.

    “I used to think that water was the true glue that held everything in the world together,” noted Ambassador Symington at the launch. “But seeing what everyone here is doing today, I realize that you have tapped into something perhaps equally important with dairy.”
    Following a ribbon-cutting, the Ambassador and other visitors were able to view for themselves the well-equipped raw milk testing equipment at the DQAL facility, which was relocated and revamped from its original grounds in the northeast region of Nyagatare. They also learned about the important work already underway by the Rwanda National Dairy Board to create a competitive environment for Rwanda’s dairy industry, promote improved incomes for dairy farmers, and move the industry towards export potential.

    Since 2007, the USAID Dairy Competitiveness (UDC) implemented by Land O’Lakes has enabled the dairy sector to compete and thrive at both national and district levels. Focusing on Nyagatare and Gatsibo Districts in Eastern Province, the project has been making incremental improvements all along the value chain that boost milk quality, make processing more efficient, and improve the industry’s competitiveness in local and export markets. Through funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), UDC is also helping to increase the productivity and profitability of dairy farms owned by people living with HIV/AIDS and improving dairy-based nutrition for orphans and vulnerable children.

    Comprised of milk producers, processors and sellers, RNDB will play a catalytic role of fostering market growth, monitoring industry trends, facilitating coordination among stakeholders, and helping the entire dairy industry – from farmers to processors, and from sellers to consumers – to reach their full potential.

    Meanwhile, DQAL is equipped with the best possible equipment for testing milk quality, and offers a vast a range of services that will enable producers, processors and all who seek to use the lab with the quality assurance services they need at an affordable price. The lab will offer nearly 30 different tests, ranging from tests for microbiological organisms, somatic cell counts and acidity, to those for raw milk components, mastitis and field testing of cows.

    Land O’Lakes is the second largest food and agricultural cooperative in the United States doing business in all 50 states. Building on the company’s 90 years of agribusiness cooperative heritage, Land O’Lakes International Development works as a not-for-profit division, and has implemented over 260 programs in 76 countries since 1981

  • Kobagaya trial: Jurors unanimously rejected genocide

    {{Jurors in the trial of Lazare Kobagaya accused of ordering atrocities during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide revealed to the media the panel agreed unanimously that he had nothing to do with the mass killings.
    }}

    In their first public comment since the trial ended earlier this week, two jurors also said that some questioned the amount of money spent to prosecute 84-year-old Kobagaya.

    The jury convicted Kobagaya of visa fraud for lying about his whereabouts during the Rwandan genocide, but deadlocked on a count over his citizenship paperwork.

    The two jurors said prosecutors failed to prove that Kobagaya incited others in Rwanda to kill members of another ethnic group. They also said some jurors felt the government failed to show criminal intent on the paperwork charge.

  • Mushikiwabo urges Japan not to neglect pledges for poor

    {{Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Louise Mushikiwabo has expressed hope that Japan will balance its efforts to rebuild from the March 11 quake and tsunami and keep supporting the world’s needy.
    }}

    According to Japanese news agency Kyodo, the minister, who was visiting Japan for a two-day international meeting on poverty reduction, said in a recent interview she appreciates Tokyo hosting the conference as scheduled, despite the catastrophe.

    “I applaud Japan for making sure that some of its important commitments are maintained,” Mushikiwabo said.

    “That does not take away from the necessity for Japan to pay close attention to investing into this reconstruction,” she said. “But in this global world, it is also to the benefit of Japan, as a country that is quite well-positioned globally, to keep its commitments.”

    Rwanda respects Japan’s decision to cut its official development assistance by around 10 percent for fiscal 2011 from the initial plan to raise funds for recovery efforts from the March calamity, Mushikiwabo said, adding, “I have no doubt that this reconstruction is going to cost money, and it’s quite normal that the Japanese people want to rebuild their own nation.”

  • African business initiative launches operations in Rwanda

    {{A Ugandan born initiative, Inspire Africa, Friday, launched its operations in Rwanda and Burundi during an event held at Hotel des Mille Collines, Kigali, .
    }}

    The initiative principally targets young and successful entrepreneurs in Africa, whose desire is to enthuse other young people willing to make it to the summit of the business world.

    The co-founder and Chief Executive officer of Inspire Africa Nelson Tugume, who started as a shop attendant at the age of 11 and a taxi operator, challenged the younger generation to be part of the project.

    “I couldn’t believe that with my background as a shop attendant and a taxi operator, I could make it to stand here today to launch this initiative not only in Rwanda but also in other countries in Africa,” Tugume pointed out during the launching ceremony.

    “Today, I come as a prophet to tell the African youth and others with a business mindset that we can achieve our targeted dream,” he added.
    The government welcomed the initiative and promised its support if required.

    “The initiative fits in Rwanda’s strategic goal of boosting entrepreneurship. We do believe that we will support the initiative among young people to bring it to its peak of success,” Clare Akamanzi, the Chief Operating Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said.

    The Minister of Trade and Industry, Francis Kanimba challenged the Inspire Africa to facilitate young entrepreneurs and particularly those involved in small and medium enterprises by equipping them with requisite business skills.

    Tugume said that Inspire Africa would run a television reality show dubbed ‘Project Inspire” would soon be launched to test their business skills and abilities. It will bring together young entrepreneurs across East Africa to compete, with the winners walking away with US$50,000 (Rwf29.6m) as startup to their business.

    According to Tugume, “Project Inspire” is a great opportunity for East Africans to showcase their business acumen besides winning the grand prize.

    Project Inspire is an eviction based TV game where locally selected and trained entrepreneurs will tussle it out in several competitions.

    The winner and the last three runners-up will share US$50,000 prize money depending on the level at which they will be evicted.
    Application forms can be obtained at all Eco Bank branches and Simba Telcom outlets.

    Inspire Africa is a human capital development organisation with the sole goal of engineering successful entrepreneurship in Africa through identifying the best business minds and supporting their entrepreneurial cause.