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RITTO-Rwanda Investment, Trade & Technology Office   
 

Who we are:

RITTO (Rwanda Investment, Trade & Technology Office)-Shenzhen is a representative office of the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency RIEPA in China.

RIEPA is a government agency with offices worldwide, which is charged with the responsibility to promote and facilitate trade and investment in Rwanda. The major objectives of the agency include:

- Promotion of Investment and Trade opportunities with Rwanda. The Office markets all investment opportunities in Rwanda to targeted investors in China and encourages Chinese company to do business and invest to Rwanda.

- Facilitation of the establishment and smooth operations of investor projects. The Agency operates a one Stop Centre for all investors, to facilitate them to start their business, enterprises or investment projects.

- Facilitation of business development and export production. The new Free Export Economic Zone FEPZ, soon to be operated will boost export trade in Rwanda.

- Advise Government on additional policies and initiatives needed to encourage and support investment in the country.

- Promotion and Facilitation of ICT (Information & Communication Technology) cooperation and exchange between Rwandese and Chinese institutions and company.


Why Invest in Rwanda?
Here are some reason why you should do business in Rwanda:
1. Favourable environment for business

1.2 Stable Macro economy

Rwanda economy is one of the fastest growing countries in Africa. Figures for 2002 indicate GDP real growth of 9.9%, with gross official exchange reserves equal to 5 months of imports. Single digit inflation (3.2% for the same period).

2. Liberalised trade regime

Rwanda is a full member of COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa), which means that products made in Rwanda, can be exported in the free trade zone that includes 19 countries, with a total population of more than 380 million. Goods manufactured in Rwanda can also be exported to the USA and the EU on preferential terms through the AGOA and Anything But Arms initiatives.

3. Modern telecommunications network

The telephone network is one of the most modern in Africa, now with ISDN and vide-conferencing facilities. The government is committed to privatising the telecommunication industry to allow further investment and make it more competitive.

4. Streamlined bureaucracy

A new investment code has been drafted. The Rwandan investment and export promotion agency, RIEPA, with its representative office in Shenzhen, the Rwanda Investment, Trade & Technology Office RITTO is already in place, with a one-stop centre for administrative formalities and approvals for business. With the advent of the National Tender Board, government contracts are available in an efficient and transparent manner.

5. Natural Resources

5.1 Rich volcanic soils

Coupled with high average rainfall, Rwanda is ideal for high value-added export production. For instance, Rwanda coffee and tea are renowned for their quality.

5.2 Natural gas

Lake Kivu contains both methane gas and carbon dioxide, which are soon to be exploited.

5.3 Excellent climate and outstanding natural beauty

l Rwanda has the potential to be a leading tourist destination:

l Watching gorillas in the mist in ´The Park National des Volcans´

l Admiring the ´ Land of a Thousand Hills´

l Walking in the ancient rainforest on Nyungwe,

l Game drives in the Akagera National Park,

l Swimming and sailing off the shores of Lake Kivu,

l Golf, Tennis and other leisure opportunities,

l Enjoying Rwanda´ s award-winning dance heritage.

6. Human resources

Rwanda is endowed with an abundance of low cost skilled and semi skilled labour. The Kigali Institute for Science, Technology and Management (KIST) has recently been set up as regional centre of excellence in areas of urban planning, management, architecture, water supply, computers, business studies, construction, electricity and mechanical engineering. The government is committed to universal primary education by 2005.



7. Strategic location

7.1 In the region

Rwanda is strategically placed between East and Central Africa, and is therefore an ideal base for reaching both markets.

Its access to Rwanda´ s links with these markets is being further strengthened in various ways:

Economical- Rwanda has applied for membership of the East African Co-operation,

Transport through the planned construction of a trans-border railway and the improvement of the road network

Linguistically- French and English are now both official languages,

Culturally much Rwandans have spent considerable time in their neighbouring countries, bringing back to Rwanda valuable experience and contacts.

7.2 In the world

Kigali benefits from an efficient international airport that links Rwanda to the world.

8. Attractive investment incentives

An investor intending to make new investment, rehabilitate, expand, renovate or restructure existing business enterprise and for that purpose import plant, machinery and equipment which is zero import tax rated under the Commodity Code is exempted from Value Added Tax otherwise payable on those goods.

Other incentives include:

l Company income tax rate of 10% within a period of ten years from the coming into force of the Investment Code.
l Importation of plant, machinery, equipment, building materials and inputs free of duty and Value Added Tax;
l Exemption from all other taxes normally levied on a business enterprise operating in the country;
l One-Stop Centre services by the Agency for facilitation at beginning of process and afterwards as long as he will be operating within this regime;
l Tax free externalisation of funds;
l Flexible work permits allowance to enable the investor to hire quality expatriate staff;
l Exemption from withholding tax and taxes on dividends;
l The right to purchase locally produced goods and services free of duty and Value Added Tax as inputs in its production process.

9. Good security situation

Rwanda has one of the lowest crime rates in Africa and is rated among one of the safest countries to live in on the continent by the UN and the International donor community.

 



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