RWANDA: THE ‘SINGAPORE’ OF EAST AFRICA?

A COUNTRY EMERGING FROM THE DEEP DARK 

It’s the late nineties and I’m visiting Rwanda for the first time. I’m attending a COMESA conference and I tell the Rwandan delegate next to me how excited I am to be in his intriguing country and I mention that I will be visiting the Genocide Museum the next day. Over 800 000 killed in just a few months. He nods then frowns: “That’s okay but please understand that there is much more to my country than the genocide.”

There surely is! A small country wedged into central-east Africa surrounded by some big boys like the DRC, Tanzania, Uganda. Some call it the ‘Singapore‘ of Africa and some call it the ‘Hong Kong‘ of the region. Why?

RAPID CHANGE LEADS TO QUICK RESULTS 

Some 20 years later I’m back on a business assignment with 2 days added on to see the famous mountain gorillas. I visit the modern building in Kigali that houses the investment centre. The official who is assigned to help me is a smiling, dark-suited young lady. I greet her in French and she immediately informs me in a friendly tone that she does not speak that language. English is now the business medium in her country. What specific projects and sectors am I interested in? She will assign me the official who has knowledge and experience of my sector and will satisfy my every need!

Whatever one’s views on Rwanda, there is no doubting its investor-friendly stance.

A STRATEGIC GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENTICING LEGISLATION

There are the aforementioned big neighboring members of the East African Community. A regional market of some 285 million with a GDP in 2021 of over US$ 305 billion. And in its midst is a country that was once so dependent on agriculture and tourism but which has now developed industries and its digital economy and is now claiming hallowed ‘mixed economy‘ status. Major transport, power supply, and other infrastructure improvements. And plans for a much-needed new international airport. An array of fiscal and other incentives such as zero corporate income tax for companies planning to relocate headquarters to Rwanda.

I stay at two hotels in Kigali (one of which is the Mille Collines of Hotel Rwanda film fame.) The streets of the CBD are wide with well-tendered tree and grass linings and verges. No visible litter. Only on the road to the gorillas of the Virunga mountains, do I see a few disheveled village buildings – some with old French signage on the walls.

AND THE DONOR COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS WORLD TAKE NOTICE

And helped by dollops of aid – over US$ 1 billion a year to make Rwanda the highest donor aid per capita in the region. Numerous offices of foreign development agencies, big and smaller NGO’s, UN relief agencies etc. Many using Rwanda as a springboard into the region. Then there is the flow of foreign direct investment by big companies and major multinationals many choosing Rwanda for their regional HQ’s – Heineken, Unilever, Microsoft, various banks and financial institutions etc. The industrial parks established by government are being filled. A green economy is encouraged and US $ 100 million green investment economy has recently been announced.

STRIVING TO BE AN ISLAND OF PEACE IN A TROUBLED SETTING

After visiting the gorillas, we return to our tourist lodgings at the foot of the mountains. I decide to go for a run around the complex and get lost. I follow a path that leads me to a line of bungalows and a parade ground where rows of soldiers are running in tight formation and almost perfect unison – shining rifles held across their chests. The tourists are protected. The conflict and mayhem is just across the border …