Investment Marketing & Facilitation

The Investment Marketing & Facilitation department is your gateway to investing in Rwanda. We showcase investment opportunities available in our priority sectors for investors seeking to make a profitable expansion into the region or the continent as a whole. The investment promotion division of the RDB

• Reaches out investors with specific investment opportunities through international road shows as well as individual business presentations by our foreign office representatives
• Facilitate prospecting investors coming to Rwanda by putting them in contact with people and entities they wish to meet;
• Organizes sector specific conferences and networking session held in Kigali
• Assists with inquiries and information gathering on behalf of the investor
• Seeking potential local and foreign partners in Rwanda for potential investors

The Investment promotion division primarily focuses on prospective investors in Agriculture and Agribusiness, Construction and Real Estate, Energy, Finance, ICT, Infrastructure, Manufacturing, Mining, and Tourism.
The Investment promotion department work with Rwanda’s diplomatic missions abroad as well as dedicated investment offices in Shenzhen-China, Quebec-Canada and Turkey to bring Rwanda’s investment opportunities to our potential foreign investors.

Rwanda (Head Office)

Email: ipd@rdb.rw

For other countries please contact your nearest Rwandan embassy from www.embassy.gov.rw

Business Registration

At the RDB, business registration has been simpler or faster. Within 6 hours your business could be registered and ready to operate. The business registration service at RDB combines all registration requirements under one roof, incorporation, taxes and employee social security. This service is performed by the Office of the Registrar General (ORG).

Today, you can register for incorporation; obtain a tax identification number (TIN) and a Social Security registration with one application.

RDB’s Office of the Registrar General goes further to:

• Register intellectual property
• Register security interests in moveable property
• Register security interests in immoveable property
• You can also register your business online on our dedicated website org.rdb.rw With continuous improvement in our service delivery, we make doing business in Rwanda simpler.

Useful links

Business procedures – Laws, procedures and application forms : http://rwanda.eregulations.org/
Office of the Registrar General http://org.rdb.rw

One Stop Centre

The One Stop Centre is RDB’s solution to our valued investors. Once a business among eligible priority sectors is registered and has a capital investment equal to or more than US$250,000 for foreign promoters and equal to or more than US$100,000 for local and COMESA Citizens, It is encouraged to register for an investment certificate that entitles access to both fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
The One Stop Centre facilitates the investor by:

Issuing Investor Certificate

The investor certificate entitles an investor to a variety of incentives. To obtain an investor certificate takes 24 hours at most. In order to obtain an investment certificate, the investor must submit:
• An application letter
• A business plan
• Memorandum of association/Shareholder’s names sheet
• Copy of incorporation certificate
• Other relevant copy of license depending on the sector

Providing required facilitation to implement the project

Incorporated in our services are non-fiscal incentives. These include:
• http://www.rra.gov.rw/Facilitation with tax related services and exemptions
• Facilitation for land acquisition and construction permits in collaboration with Kigali City Construction One Stop Centre.
• Access to utilities.
• Facilitation with obtaining visas and work permits.
• Notary services.
• Providing Environmental Impact Assessment Certificate (EIA Contact information).

Tax incentives are offered to both foreign and local investors. The investment code and tax laws and East African Community tax regulations make provisions for tax incentives. Among these incentives are exemption on capital goods, raw materials and hotel equipment.

Useful links

Rwanda Revenue Authority: www.rra.gov.rw

Directorate General of immigration and Emigration: www.migration.gov.rw

Kigali City: www.kigalicity.gov.rw

Frequently asked questions

What is the Rwanda Development Board?

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is a Rwandan Government agency charged with fast-tracking the economic development of Rwanda. For investors, it is the gateway to all the investment opportunities offered by Rwanda and a strong partner to help decide on and implement each investment project.

What services does the Rwanda Development Board provide?

RDB provides advice, information and assistance on all matters relating to investment including helping with the investor’s initial visit to Rwanda. In addition RDB offers a wide range of investor services including;

• Business Registration
• Business and investment facilitation,
• Issuance of Investment Certificates that will facilitate in starting your business
• Notary services to newly registered investors,
• Access to information on location factors and business opportunities,
• Immigration services

For more information about our services, please contact us directly or visit our website https://rdb.rw

Who is a foreign investor in Rwanda?

A foreign investor in Rwanda (referring to the Investment Code) is any legal entity investing a minimum startup capital of $250.000USD for overseas citizens and $100,000 for locals and members from the East African Community and COMESA states. This enables the investor to apply for an investment certificate

Are investors treated the same as local investors in Rwanda?

Yes, overseas investors are offered the same opportunities and services. Overseas investors are particularly welcomed to participate in the continued growth of the Rwandan economy.

What are some of the investment opportunities available in Rwanda?

Rwanda has a wide range of investment opportunities to offer to investors. Our major focus has majorly relied on key priority sectors of investment that include; infrastructure, agriculture, energy, tourism, business services, ICT, real estate and construction, Financial Services, Mining, Education, Health and General Manufacturing. To find out more, please contact us by telephone or by email on info@rdb.rw and we will be delighted to respond quickly to your enquiry.

How long does it take to register my company/ investment business in Rwanda?

It only takes six (6) hours to register your business in Rwanda. Starting a business in Rwanda requires 2 simple steps;
First step: approval of a company name and submitting application .
Second Step: Obtaining a Certificate of incorporation.

What are some of the important documents needed before I can register my business in Rwanda?

Domestic Company Registration

• Copy of ID/Passport
• Complete two copies of Memorandum of Association Art 14 (downloaded on our website here)

Opening a branch/ Foreign Company

• Power of attorney to present the company in Rwanda.(Notarised)
• A duly authenticated copy of the memorandum Articles of Association. (Notarised)
• Certificate of Registration/Incorporation issued by the registration authority in the country of incorporation. (Notarised)
• Notarised resolution from the authorized agency authorizing to open a branch.
• Passport copies of the shareholders/directors.
• List of directors residing in Rwanda (atleast One )

For more information about business registration please visit this link http://org.rdb.rw or http://rwanda.eregulations.org

Are there any fees charged to register my business in Rwanda?

No, it’s free.

Do you issue out investment certificates? How much do I pay to obtain one?

Yes, the RDB One Stop Center issues out the investment certificate. To obtain one, you need to do the following;

• Apply to the One Stop Center RDB requesting for investment registration.
• Submit a business plan or a feasibility study
• Submit memorandum and articles of association
• Submit copy of certificate of incorporation.

Once an application for investment registration is approved, an acceptance letter will be dispatched containing the following information;

• Request to pay a fee US$500 to a Commercial Bank.
• Advice to comply with EIA requirement before actual implementation of your project.
• Submission of proof of payment.

How long does it take to obtain an Investment Certificate?

It only takes two days to process an application and obtain an investment certificate.

Do you offer incentives to investors? Please specify on the incentives offered at large.

Yes the Rwanda Development Board offers incentives to investors provided an investment certificate has been issued. There are two kinds of incentives offered to investors.

Non –fiscal incentives:

• Free initial work permits and visas for investors and foreign workers.
• The One Stop Centre and Aftercare Division offers facilitation to investors such as land acquisition, mining concessions etc.
• Fiscal Incentives

Incentives are expected to change as Rwanda integrates into the East African Community –contact a delegated officer in the One Stop Center RDB for the latest available incentives. An Investment Enterprise benefits from a flat fee of 10% of the CIF value of building and finishing materials. For more details and much more about investment incentives in Rwanda kindly refer to this link for details http://rwanda.eregulations.org

Do you offer Environmental Impact Assessment Services to registered investors? And is there a charge for this?

Yes the Rwanda Development Board offers Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), when a project is registered with the One Stop Centre in RDB, there is no fee charged for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Please contact the One Stop Center RDB for further information and help or send an email to info@rdb.rw

How long does it take to obtain a visa in Rwanda? Where do I go to?

It only takes three working days to get a Rwandan Visa for an online application or through a Rwandan High Commission or Consular office. A tracking number will be issued which will later on be used to obtain the visa. Please contact the nearest Rwandan Embassy/ Consular office for further details. You may also visit this link for more information http://www.migration.gov.rw

Does the Rwanda Development Board have an investment fund?

The Rwanda Development Board does not provide funding to investors but can advise on sources of financing.

Can I get land in Rwanda for my project?

Yes land can easily be obtained for projects and this is done in two ways;

• Privately purchasing land from the private secto
• RDB can apply for public sector land on your behalf of the investor for special considerations to cabinet, should RDB deem the project to be significant business or strategic importance

What is the cost of land in Rwanda?

There is no fixed price for land in Rwanda; this entirely depends on the location and the bargaining power between the buyer and the land owner.

What is the exchange rate of the dollar against your local currency?

To obtain the latest exchange rates for major currencies against the Rwandan Franc, please visit http://www.bnr.rw for more details.

Do you have regional or international offices that can facilitate in providing more information?

Yes the Rwanda Development Board has regional and international offices that will help provide information to investors. RDB offices in North America (Canada), China (Shenzhen), and Turkey (Istanbul). Advice and help can also be obtained from the Commercial Attaches, in each Rwandan Embassy/ Consular office abroad. http://www.embassy.gov.rw

Contact details for RDB’s overseas offices are as follows;

China Office

218/2F, Overseas scholars Venture Building, High tech Park,
Shenzhen, China
Phone (86-755)2655 1953
Contact person
Mr. Albert Rugaba
Investment & Trade Officer, RDB China

Canada

2740, Montee Saint, Hubert, Bureau 102
St-Hubert J3Y 4H8 Quebec Canada
Phone (+1) 4509230397

Contact person

Emmanuel Muhawenimana
Investment and Trade Officer, North America Office
Email: muhawe07@gmail.com