Rwanda’s Ambassador Jacqueline Mukangira has a clear message for India’s Gujarati business tycoons: Your next big opportunity lies in Kigali. Speaking candidly, she revealed how Rwanda’s pro-investment ecosystem is drawing diamond merchants, textile magnates, and real estate developers from Gujarat like never before.
What sets Rwanda apart? It’s the world’s top-ranked nation for ease of starting a business, according to World Bank metrics. Digital portals allow company incorporation in under six hours, coupled with zero tolerance for corruption and competitive tax rates hovering at 15%. For Gujaratis, accustomed to navigating red tape back home, this is a breath of fresh air.
Mukangira shared anecdotes of Gujarati firms transforming Rwandan landscapes – from agro-processing plants boosting coffee exports to tech parks nurturing startups. ‘Our one-stop investment centers and special economic zones are tailored for partners like you,’ she noted, underscoring Rwanda’s 7-8% annual GDP growth.
Bilateral trade hit $100 million last year, with Gujarati pharmaceuticals and machinery flooding Rwandan markets. Upcoming projects in renewable energy and tourism promise even higher stakes. Rwanda’s visa-on-arrival for Indians and English as an official language erase entry barriers.
As global supply chains realign post-pandemic, Rwanda offers stability amid African volatility. Mukangira urged Gujaratis to leverage AfCFTA access for pan-African expansion. With MoUs signed in key sectors, the die is cast for a Gujarat-Rwanda renaissance in investments.
