The Government of Rwanda, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) through its Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA), has launched a 2-year project aimed at “Enhancing the Quality of Industrial Policy in Rwanda (EQuIP project).

The project worth USD 550,000 is meant to build staff capacity from institutions under the Private Sector Development and Youth Employment (PSDYE) sector, namely the Ministry of Trade and Industry and its agencies, Rwanda Development Board and the Private sector. The ultimate goal is to build local capacity to design, implement and evaluate the impact of related industrial policies independently without/with minimum reliance on external expertise.

The project is expected to enhance the analytical capacity of beneficiaries, increase public-private coordination to improve the quality of industrial and private sector-oriented policies and build capacity within the Government and private sector to implement, monitor and evaluate the industrial development strategies and policies.

The project aligns with Rwanda’s ambition to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2035. The underlying economic goals of the industrial policy include creating over 200,000 jobs annually to promote development, positioning Rwanda as a globally competitive knowledge-based economy, promoting industrialization and shifting the export base to high-value goods and services.

These goals require an equally bold strategy to boost inclusive growth that further generates jobs and improves welfare for the Rwandan people. This project will contribute to more inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Rwanda through more effective implementation of industrial policy interventions that stimulate private sector growth.

Commenting on the project, Hon. Minister of Trade and Industry Beata Habyarimana said:

“This project comes at the right time when we are currently reviewing the 2011 industrial policy. The support to strengthen our capacities to effectively implement and monitor the effectiveness of industrialization strategies through a series of Enhancing the Quality of Industrial Policies (EQuIP) technical assistance and capacity development training is of paramount importance.”

Rwanda Development Board Chief Skills Officer, Elodie Rusera, said:

“We welcome the support by the Government of Japan through the African Development Bank. We hope that the project will make policy processes more effective, independent, and sustainable.”

Aissa Toure Sarr, Country Manager, African Development Bank, said:

“The project has been designed to support and stimulate private sector growth, contributing towards a more inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Rwanda. It also aligns with the bank’s industrial Africa strategy. We are committed to providing policy advice and technical assistance to the Government through the program.”

Masahiro Imai, Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, said:

“I would like to commend the efforts by the Government of Rwanda in stimulating the economy with an excellent openness and transparency vis a vis private and foreign investors and financiers. We hope that the project will contribute to and play a leading role in achieving sustainable and inclusive development of Rwanda.”

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RDB media enquiries, contact: Doreen Ingabire, Head of Communications, Rwanda Development Board, at communications@rdb.rw