In a bid to recognize the private sector’s essential role in growing Rwanda’s economy, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) will on 18th January 2019 celebrate the ‘RDB Business Excellence Awards 2018’ at the Kigali Convention Center.

The categories that will be awarded this year are; Investor of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Made in Rwanda Enterprise of the Year and the SME of the Year.

Both local and foreign investors in Rwanda are encouraged to participate in this year’s awards by applying online via this link before the 15, December deadline.

Launching the awards, RDB Chief Executive Officer, Clare Akamanzi, said; “Exports in Rwanda increased by 30% last year and GDP grew by over seven percent. This is clear evidence that the Rwandan private sector has been thriving. The ‘Made in Rwanda’ initiative, which aims not only to increase local employment but also reduce the country’s trade deficit, is possible because local businesses are playing their role and with the RDB Business Excellence Awards we are recognizing this fact”.

This will be the sixth edition of the RDB Business Excellence Awards.
Speaking in the 2017 gala event CEO Akamanzi, noted that the winners were the captains of the industry.
“When you win, Rwanda wins and when Rwanda wins, we all win. This is, therefore, an evening of celebrating excellence demonstrated by the business community in the country. But it’s also been a special way of celebrating the growing ecosystem that ensures private sector remains at the forefront of everything we do here in Rwanda,” she noted.

Africa Improved Foods (AIF) was awarded as the Investor of the Year in the 2017 RDB Business Excellence Awards.