President Paul Kagame has urged the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to sharpen its focus on delivery and measurable results as the government seeks to attract more private investment, expand exports and tourism, and strengthen the country’s economic competitiveness.
Kagame joined the RDB Board of Directors for a meeting at the agency’s offices in Kigali on Wednesday, September 2, where members reviewed the institution’s priorities and efforts to accelerate private-sector-led growth.
According to a statement from the President’s office, Kagame emphasized the importance of delivery, accountability and continuous improvement of the business environment, calling for conditions that enable businesses and investors to operate, expand and generate economic value.
The meeting comes as Rwanda seeks to increase the role of the private sector in driving economic growth. The government has invested in infrastructure, digital services and regulatory reforms while seeking to position the country as a regional destination for investment and services.
RDB is central to that strategy, with responsibilities covering investment promotion and facilitation, export development and tourism promotion. The agency also serves as a key interface between the government and domestic and international investors.
For Rwanda, the emphasis on execution comes as African economies compete increasingly for international capital. Attracting investment is becoming only one part of the challenge, with governments under pressure to ensure that announced projects translate into operating businesses, increased production, employment and exports.
Rwanda is seeking investment across sectors including manufacturing, technology, tourism, infrastructure and financial services, particularly in areas with potential to generate jobs, exports and greater productivity.
Kagame’s message also places greater emphasis on measuring RDB’s performance beyond the number of investment projects or investors it attracts. The broader measure of success is whether companies establish operations, expand their businesses, create employment and contribute to Rwanda’s access to regional and international markets.
That objective is particularly important for Rwanda’s economy, which has a relatively small domestic market and is landlocked. Sustained economic expansion therefore depends heavily on investment, productivity and stronger connections to regional and global markets.
The President called on the RDB board to maintain a strong focus on execution while continuing to improve the environment in which businesses and investors operate.
The meeting forms part of the government’s wider efforts to strengthen private-sector participation in Rwanda’s economic development and convert investment promotion into tangible outcomes for the broader economy.
