Rwanda has outlined seven key investment opportunities across strategic sectors as it seeks to position itself as a leading regional investment hub.
Speaking during the “Invest in Rwanda” session at the Africa CEO Forum on May 14, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) CEO Jean-Guy Afrika said the global investment landscape is evolving rapidly.
Rwanda Development Board CEO Jean-Guy Afrika delivers his remarks at the opening session of the 2026 Africa CEO Forum in Kigali on May 14. Photo by Dan Gatsinzi
“In this environment, investors are no longer looking for opportunity alone, but for countries that offer stability, clarity, speed, and execution.”
He said Rwanda’s investment model has been shaped by its geography and history, including the country’s reconstruction after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“Because we are landlocked, we focused on connectivity, logistics, aviation, services, and sectors where reliability and speed matter. Because our domestic market is relatively small, but we have a large regional catchment area, we positioned Rwanda as a platform for regional growth,” he added.
Afrika highlighted that Rwanda should be seen not only as a market of 14 million people, but also as a gateway to the East African Community, COMESA, the Great Lakes region, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Rwanda’s economy grew by 9.4 per cent in 2025, while foreign private capital inflows reached $1.1 billion in 2024, a 23.9 per cent increase year-on-year.
The country also recorded $2.62 billion in investment commitments in 2025 across real estate, manufacturing, agro-processing, and mining.
“Our value proposition is not that we are the largest market. It is that we are one of the most reliable platforms from which to build. If you are looking for a stable and reliable platform from which to invest, operate, and grow across borders, Rwanda is ready to work with you.”
Agriculture, agro-processing
RDB Chief Investment Officer Michelle Umurungi said agriculture remains a key priority, particularly agro-processing focused on value addition, cold chain systems, packaging, and export-ready supply chains.
“The opportunities are really within the horticulture sectors where we see crops that are growing in demand in key markets. Fish farming and processing has also become quite an interesting sub-segment,” she said.
Mining
Rwanda is targeting greater value addition in the mining sector beyond raw exports. Mineral exports reached $869.7 million in 2025, supporting more than 92,000 jobs.
Umurungi said global demand for energy transition minerals is opening new opportunities.
“Today, the opportunities are across the value chain, in terms of exploration and refinery. We know that beneficiation is a key segment because we want to move away from raw extraction to value addition,” she noted.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Rwanda is strengthening its pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, supported by the Rwanda FDA attaining WHO Maturity Level 3 and BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine initiative in Kigali.
“There’s a reason why Africans should be able to receive appropriate medical care on the continent instead of travelling abroad,” Umurungi said.
Logistics, aviation
The new Kigali International Airport is expected to increase annual passenger capacity from one million to eight million.
Rwanda is positioning itself as a regional distribution hub, supported by its national airline’s connectivity to more than 30 destinations.
Umurungi noted that membership in AfCFTA, EAC, and COMESA gives investors wider regional market access and lower trade barriers.
Real estate, tourism
Tourism and MICE revenues reached $685 million in 2025. Rwanda is seeking investment in high-end hotels, eco-lodges, sports facilities, and middle-income housing.
“In terms of middle-income housing, there’s huge demand. Today we’re seeing about 13,000 housing units needed every year,” Umurungi said.
Sports infrastructure
She also highlighted opportunities in sports infrastructure linked to Kigali’s growing entertainment economy
Digital finance, innovation
Rwanda aims to position itself as one of Africa’s most trusted investment destinations.
“We understand that in a world where capital grows at the speed of confidence, Rwanda has to become one of Africa’s highest trust-rated environments,” the official said, adding that the country is promoting innovation-friendly regulation and partnerships with global universities and technology institutions.
