Why should investors target Rwanda’s ICT sector?

Jean-Philbert Nsengimana, Rwanda’s Minister of Youth and ICT, explains that two former ministries were combined as part of Rwanda’s President strategy to fast-track a knowledge-based economy through the combined power of technology and youth. In an Interview with European Times, He discusses his ministry’s priorities and below are excerpts of the Interview.

European Times: What are some of your current projects?

Jean-Philbert Nsengimana: We are implementing the “Smart Rwanda” Master Plan, our 4th Generation ICT for Development Plan. We began the process in 2000 with a 20-year plan to transition from an agriculture-based to a middle income, knowledge-based economy. In the first five years, we focused on building an enabling environment for investments, liberalised the sector, created an ICT Authority and welcomed private telecom investors. In the second phase, the government invested heavily in a fibre-optic backbone, initiated the One Laptop Per Child and other access initiatives. In the third phase, we focused on ICT services. The current fourth phase aims to fast-track the transition into a knowledge economy with a special focus on five key areas: education, healthcare, agriculture, government, and the private sector.

European Times: What about the relationship between ICT and youth?

Jean-Philbert Nsengimana: Rwanda’s digital natives have on one hand the skills and passion to use ICT and on the other need jobs. New developments include K-Lab, a youth innovation hub, and YouthConnekt, which connects the youth to role models, resources, skills and employment opportunities. Many young Rwandans have turned their ideas into innovative companies. Many are starting a business when they graduate from university. Last year Rwanda registered 4,169 small-to-medium-sized ICT start-ups. This is a strong indicator of the progress that has been made. We have also put in place several structures and programs to provide youth with expert advice and facilitation accessing financing. This ministry wants to make sure Rwandan entrepreneurs are successful. We hosted the Transform Africa conference in 2013 with the theme of delivering the promise of the future, today. The next edition is coming up in the last week of October 2015. Meanwhile, the initiative has reached continental proportions and is profoundly shaping Africa’s ICT agenda.

European Times: Why should investors target Rwanda’s ICT sector?

Jean-Philbert Nsengimana: The ICT sector is growing faster than any other in our country. The number of Rwandans using mobile payments and enjoying financial inclusion has increased from 200,000 in 2010 to 5.5 million today. Services based on ICT such as e-commerce are really booming. Rwanda offers ICT investment opportunities in education, implementing cutting-edge ICT in key sectors of our economy, a Tech city (Technopole), business-process outsourcing (which is expected to grow 90% by 2020), and more. For big ICT powerhouses, there is no better place for a regional headquarters than Kigali.

European Times: What is your personal message to potential investors?

Jean-Philbert Nsengimana: Rwanda is the easiest place to do business in Africa and is a gateway to a much larger market that is unfolding as we speak: the entire African continent.