Today, RDB (Rwanda Development Board) awarded 11 local businesses during the 7th edition of the RDB Business Excellence Awards.

The 2019 RDB Business Excellence Awards celebrated efforts made by both corporate and small medium sized enterprises in Rwanda. The awards are an opportunity for the local business community to come together and celebrate business development and success.

About 500 guests including members of local business community, media, development partners and various other stakeholders, attended the ceremony that took place at the Kigali Convention Center.

The nine categories that were awarded were the Investor of the Year, Emerging Investor of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Emerging 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, Emerging Made In Rwanda Enterprise of the Year, SME of the Year, and the Skills Development Promoter of the Year.

180 companies applied for the 2019 RDB Business Excellence Awards.

Commenting on the role of the private sector in Rwanda’s development agenda and how the RDB Excellence Awards tie into RDB’s mission of fast tracking investment in Rwanda, RDB Chief Executive Officer, Clare Akamanzi, said:

“As we celebrate the achievements registered by our business community from various areas of our economy, some key milestones epitomize the key role played by our private sector. For example, after recording 173 projects worth US$ 2 billion in investments registered for the first time in the country’s history in 2018, we continued our strong investment growth with over US$ 2.4 billion registered in 2019 – our highest investment registration to date. This increase represents a 23% increase from 2018. This is undoubtedly a vote of confidence of our business environment when you consider that in 2010, less than US$ 400 million worth of projects were registered. While I congratulate all the winners tonight, I want you to know that every single one of you is a winner for choosing to invest in Rwanda.”

In his keynote address, the Guest of Honor, Prime Minister, ÉdouardNgirente, said:

“The business community is an essential component of Rwanda’s trajectory towards achieving an inclusive and sustainable growth by 2024 and middle income status by 2035. The Private sector is currently the largest provider of jobs to our citizens and the Government of Rwanda recognizes the efforts in this direction. The Government also appreciates the role of the business community in increasing the country’s exports. I call upon the business community to engage more in joint ventures (local and foreign) and explore markets through various partnerships to expand their businesses.” 

Below are the winners of 2019 RDB Business Excellence Awards:

1. Investor of the Year: Master Steel Rwanda
2. Emerging investor of the Year: Volkswagen Mobility Solutions
3. Exporter of the Year: Africa Improved Foods
4. Emerging Exporter of the Year: MultiSector Investment Group
5. Innovator of the Year: MTN Rwanda
6. Woman entrepreneur of the Year: Epiphanie Mukashyaka, Founder of Bufcoffee Ltd.
7. Young entrepreneur of the Year: Lionel Mpfizi, Founder of Awesomity Labs
8. Made in Rwanda Enterprise of the Year: Agropy Ltd
9. Emerging Made In Rwanda Enterprise of the Year: Moshions Rwanda Limited
10. SME of the Year: EasyHatch Ltd
11. Skills Development Promoter of the year: KCB Bank Rwanda