Huye, Rwanda, 30 September 2026 – Public and private sector leaders, investors, development partners, entrepreneurs and academics gathered today for the Huye Investment Forum, a platform dedicated to showcasing the district’s investment potential and strengthening partnerships that can drive sustainable economic growth.

Held under the theme of positioning Huye as a premier destination for investment, the forum highlighted opportunities across key sectors including education, agriculture, tourism, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and services, while promoting dialogue on how investment can contribute to job creation, innovation and local economic transformation.

Opening the forum, Ange Sebutege, Mayor of Huye District, emphasised the importance of collaboration in unlocking the district’s economic potential.

“Unlocking Huye’s strategic investment opportunities requires strong collaboration between the public sector, private sector, and citizens to transform shared potential into sustainable economic growth.

Through collective efforts and stronger partnerships, we can create an enabling environment for investors, promote business development, and turn available opportunities into projects that benefit our communities.

Huye District remains committed to working with all stakeholders to position the district as an attractive destination for investment and a driver of Rwanda’s development journey.”

The forum featured presentations on investment and business opportunities in Huye District, delivered by André Kamana, Huye Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Affairs and  Ronald Kabagambe, Acting Head of Investment Marketing and Facilitation at Rwanda Development Board (RDB). 

The session outlined the district’s competitive advantages and the support mechanisms available to facilitate investment and business expansion.

Addressing participants, Jean-Guy Afrika, Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Development Board highlighted the importance of strengthening economic activity beyond Rwanda’s major cities.

“Rwanda’s economy grows when we have strong economic centres across all districts and secondary cities, places where businesses can invest, young people can find jobs, and communities can continue to improve their quality of life.

Huye’s role in this development journey is supported by its strengths in education, tourism, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing, creating opportunities for investment, production and value addition.

We remain committed to supporting districts to become centres of investment and working with investors to transform opportunities into businesses that create jobs and contribute to Rwanda’s growth.”

A key feature of the forum was the panel discussion titled “Positioning Huye as an Ideal Destination for Investment,” which brought together leaders from academia, business and the private sector to discuss practical pathways for attracting and sustaining investment.

During the discussion, Dr. Didas Kayihura Muganga, Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Rwanda, underscored the role of education, research and innovation in driving economic growth and strengthening Huye’s investment appeal.

“Huye’s potential as an investment destination is also driven by its knowledge ecosystem. Through stronger collaboration between universities, researchers, businesses, and technology partners, we can transform research and innovation into solutions that support economic growth.

Building the skills of our people, embracing technology, including artificial intelligence, and promoting sustainable development are key to creating opportunities and strengthening Huye’s position as a hub for investment and innovation.”

The panel also explored opportunities within Huye’s agricultural value chains, particularly coffee. Brigitte Mukakarangwa, Chief Executive Officer of Huye’s KOGIMUWAKA Cooperative, highlighted the potential for value addition and investment within the sector.

“Huye has an opportunity to build investment around its unique strengths, including coffee, by moving beyond production and creating more value through processing, branding and strategic partnerships.

Developing the coffee ecosystem can help attract investors, create new opportunities and strengthen Huye’s position as an investment destination.”

Throughout the discussions, speakers stressed the need to build stronger linkages between government institutions, investors, educational institutions and local businesses to unlock Huye’s full economic potential. 

Participants also explored ways to accelerate investment, foster entrepreneurship, promote innovation and create sustainable employment opportunities for communities across the district.

The forum also featured a visit by Jean-Guy Afrika to Labophar, one of Huye District’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturers. The visit provided firsthand insight into the company’s operations and ongoing expansion, including the construction of a new facility that will increase production capacity and support the manufacture of IV fluids, highlighting Huye’s growing potential as a hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and value-added investment.

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