Intiti Magazine - Issue 5

No 5 | March-April 2019 A Special

Publication

International brand ‘HEINEKEN’ towards now locally produced Contributes Made in Rwanda

manufacturing:

Energy:

S&H Industries Ltd offering customised durable Hippo roofing products Made in Rwanda

Rwanda to start producing bottled gas from Lake Kivu

Intiti M AGA Z INE

BUSINESS Excellence

AWARDS 2018

WINNER

CONTENTS

News in Brief Economy to grow by 7.8% this year |12 Conference Tourism to fetch Rwanda over $ 70m by June |13 National Leadership Retreat: Ten resolutions adopted |8

Rwanda space ambitions grows, orbits satellite |12

Mara phones to start Rwanda production |13

Big Stories

Rwanda to start producing bottled gas from Lake Kivu |14

Features

Sina Gerard’s moving story is the best example that Made in Rwanda has many opportunities particularly Rwanda’s agri-business sector.

MADE IN RWANDA Enterprise of the Year 2018

Sina Gerard

Ese URWIBUTSO

To recognise outstanding individuals and businesses, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) awarded Sina Gerard with the 2018 Made in Rwanda Enterprise of the year for his tireless efforts to promote innovation in Rwanda.

Located in Rulindo District Tel: +250 788 305 122 788 136 999 Email: info@sinarwanda.com www.sinarwanda.com

Harnessing youth potential to promote Made in Rwanda |15

Sina Gerard: Scoops award for promoting Made in Rwanda |23 AMEKI COLOR: Rwanda’s leading paint maker |26

Hippo roofing spearheads customised durable solutions |5

BRALIRWA PLC contributes towards Made in Rwanda agenda |18

Providing digital healthcare services gains ground |28 The Myth and truth about fitness |30

Society

Sports

Passion drove me to photography |32

Tour du Rwanda Lessons to be learned from the 2019 competition

Opinion Coffee, Cocoa, and the Cutting Edge |34

International Trade

Rwandan products now selling on Singaporean leading grocery retail |38

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Editorial

Publisher’s note The recently concluded National Leadership Retreat in Gabiro tackled a pertinent issue facing local business operators. Third on the list of resolutions was a resolve to examine and put in place measures aimed at addressing challenges that impede the implementation of Made in Rwanda Policy.

This is a welcome development to local producers who are sometimes faced with challenges that have no immediate solution or confront slow government response to resolve issues which impedes operation and can give birth to other problems.

Though government has continued to invest and encourage locally produced goods and services it needs to stay proactive in light of challenges to private sector. As raising local production through Made in Rwanda remains the best way to close the country’s trade deficit gap as statistics show.

The leadership retreat also had private

business leaders invited to participate for the first time in the retreat’s 16th edition demonstrating the political will that Rwanda’s leadership attach to the private sector.

Therefore, this year looks good for Made in Rwanda campaign as we see more investments and deals closed that benefit this agenda. Major among them is a local firm that is about to start the manufacture of mosquito bed nets. Vision Garments is a local firm partly owned by Rwandan exservicemen that is among a few firms to be certified by the World Health Organisation and will save the country billions in imports of mosquito bed nets.

Among the initial beneficiaries are 475 Rwandans who are to be trained in textile and garments manufacturing by Rwanda Polytechnic which entered into agreement with Vision Garments. After training they will get jobs and this initiative will bring more benefits to the country ranging from economy, health and social sectors.

The first Premium stone coated steel roofing tiles manufacturered in Rwanda and one of the few in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Our main stone coated tile products are: - Hippo tile - Hippo classic - Hippo Shingle.

PRE-PAINTED 1. HIPPO LIFE Technical Specifications:

of the art technology and full set of automated coating line.

It is our belief and Core value that satisfying our customers Hippo stone-coated steel is an essential factor that roofing tiles are made of a keeps us growing in the ROOFING SOLUTIONS high quality Aluminum-Zinc industry. We want to promise alloy steel which is coated our valued customer that 2. HIPPO PLUS with world class stone we will exert our full effort in Technical Specifications: granules by using our state fulfilling our commitment.

- Overall Length: 1170 mm - Effective cover width: 1070 mm - Base material: Al-Zinc coated steel - Thickness: 0.4 mm - Gauges: 26

3. HIPPO COVER

- Panel size: 1340 mm x 420 mm Light stone coated metal roofing tiles - Installed Exposure: 1265 mm x 370 mm - Area coverage of tile: 0.468SQM - Tiles/SQM: 2.13 PCs - Installed weight: 5.96 Kgs - Base material: Al-Zinc coated steel - Thickness: 0.40 mm

4. ACCESSORIES HIPPO RIDGE

Technical Specifications:

Technical Specifications:

- Overall width: 1080 mm - Effective cover: 1020 mm - Base material: Al-Zinc coated steel (PPGL) - Gauges: 30

- Cover width: 400 mm - Base material: Al-Zinc coated steel (PPGL)

PRE-PAINTED ROOFING SOLUTIONS Managing Editor Steven Nsamaza +250 788 306 472 nsamaza@gmail.com

Contributors Aimable Twahira Jejje Muhinde Steven Nsamaza

Sales and Marketing Manager Robert Mubumbyi +250 785 450 077 murobert85@gmail.com

Design / Layout Moses Sserunkuma +250 784 510 388

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Intiti Limited Gasabo District- Amahoro Stadium Administration and Marketing Tel: +250 788 314 909, +250 785 450 077 Email: Intiti.rw@gmail.com Twiter:@MagazineIntiti Facebook:intitimagazine www.intiti.rw

1. HIPPO LIFE

2. HIPPO PLUS Technical Specifications:

TEAK

TEAK BROWN

S&H Industries Ltd. (Hippo Roofing)

GREEN

CAPRI BLUE

Technical Specifications: BLUE

- Overall Length: 1170 mm - Effective cover width: 1070 mm - Base material: Al-Zinc coated steel - Thickness: 0.4 mm - Gauges: 26

DARK GREY

GREY

TERRA COTTA

BRICK RED

- Panel size: 1340 mm x 420 mm - Installed Exposure: 1265 mm x 370 mm - Area coverage of tile: 0.468SQM - Tiles/SQM: 2.13 PCs - Installed weight: 5.96 Kgs POTTERS CLAY TELLOW MAROON CHARCOAL BLACK BROWN COFFEE BROWN CARMEL - Base material: Al-Zinc coated steel - Thickness: 0.40strong. mm This is due to Strong & Light Weight: As compared to ordinary clay tiles, stone coated roofing tiles are very

Special Ecomonic Zone Masoro Plot D5 P. O. Box 6129 Kigali - Rwanda Tel: +250 787 419 067 +250 788 312 192 Email: info@hipporoofings.co.rw

www.hipporoofings.co.rw

the aluminum zinc base material coated to steel used. It is also unbelievably light weight in comparison with concrete,

clay weighs 6 times that of stone coated Tiles.

3. HIPPO COVER 4. ACCESSORIES Rwanda Tea Packers . P.O BOX 4834 Kigali -Rwanda . Tel: 0788 302 537

Email: accounts@rwandateapackers.com website:www.rwandateapackers.com Environmentally Friendly: The product is environmentally conscious, less timber is. used and therefore less destrucHIPPO RIDGE tion of our forests. Around 70% of the contents used are recyclable.

Technical Specifications:

Technical Specifications:

- Effective cover: 1020 mm

- Base material:

Heat Resistant: As compared to other roofing products stone coated tiles are known to be resistant to house fires, in fact, research shows that1080 a house - Overall width: mmcan burn down leaving the tiles intact.

- Cover width: 400 mm

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Roofing Solutions

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S&H offering customised durable Hippo roofing products Made in Rwanda Hippo Roofing was launched in 2015 as the brand name of products produced

by S&H Industries Ltd, the company is the first of its kind in Rwanda to manufacture premium stone coated roofing tiles. It’s currently renowned as the only manufacturer of Made in Rwanda steel roofing tile products.

In 2013, Horizon Group Rwanda and Sisay Investment Ethiopia came together and formed a joint company, S&H Industries, a limited liability company focused on the manufacture of ceramic powder coated iron sheets under the brand name, Hippo Roofing.

Strategically located at the Kigali Special Economic Zone, Nyandungu, Gasabo District, S&H Industries launched its operations in October 2015 and is currently working an 8-hour clock shift with capacity to produce up to 1,200 pieces which is equivalent to

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about 6-7 tones.

S&H Industries is a pioneer manufacturer of premium stone coated roofing tiles in Rwanda, Ayele Demissie Yilma, the Chief Executive Officer of S&H Industries observes that, “no other local company is comparable in steel roofing tile business and we take the lead in the industry with our excellent reputation producing premium stone coated tiles.The company also produces pre-painted roofing tiles and corrugated sheets on customization.”

“We are confident that based on our know how, when there is demand from our customers, we are sure you can feel our differentiated modern technology and satisfaction,” emphasises Yilma.

The plant which is majorly automated employees 24 permanent workers plus frequent casual labourers who are hired on demand. S&H distributes 95% of Hippo Roofing Industries within the country and the rest is exported to neighbouring countries including Gabon,

HIPPO LIFE

HIPPO cover

Burundi, D.R. Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.

“Hippo Roofing uses a technology that coats the normal galvanized iron sheets with coloured ceramic stone chips from Italy which edifies the quality and the visual appeal of the sheets,” says Maru Seboka, the production manager at S&H Industries.

Unique and advanced new technology is used in the manufacture of Hippo ceramic powder coated iron sheets compared to the conventional galvanized aluminium iron sheets.

Brightly coloured ceramic stone chips from Italy and sprayed on the sheets making them more durable and sound proof.

Beautiful glossy finishing polish ensures the visual appeal is way above the normal coloured iron sheets as the ceramic powder comes in different colours like red, brown and black or a mixture of the three.

Yilma explains that, heat does not permeate the Hippo Roofs regardless of whether there is ceiling or not as an added

HIPPO Corrugated

advantage. “With the coating one would simply assume that Hippo roofing is heavy to lift or brittle which is not the case, our product is light and can be transported without the fear of damage unlike the clay roofing tiles.”

Interestingly, the company is one of its kind in Rwanda that produces stone coated iron sheets, other types include galvanized, alloy zinc, pre-painted as well as accessories.

Yilma gives an insight into the future of the company of whose focus will be expansion and serving the clients better in many ways. “Our five year plan is to grow into a double shift manufacturer and double the jobs we are currently offering,” he promises.

With the new technology, Hippo Roofing comes with a guarantee of 50 years unlike any other on the market. “Beyond selling the

Roofing Solutions

HIPPO PLUS

product, we offer technical advice on installation and any other queries and concerns our clients may raise,” he continues.

S&H industrial activities are in line with promoting Made in Rwanda, a program initiated and supported by the Government of Rwanda, putting locally manufactured brands at a competitive edge as opposed to being complacent and accepting of the low quality imports which spoil the market.

With gratitude to the government for the land and legal advice,Yilma says the vision of S&H Industries is to dress the country and the region with beauty from the bird eye view and offer the best quality roofing solutions for all. Hippo Roofing solution is widely being embraced for the roofing of both commercial and domestic buildings within the country over the last few years as people shift from the old noisy iron sheets which also heat up the houses.

HIPPO STONE COATED TILES March- April 2019

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National Leadership Retreat:

Ten resolutions adopted Rwanda’s top officials met for three-day retreat Chaired by President Paul Kagame from March 9, 2019 at the RDF Combat Training Centre in Gabiro. Focusing mainly on sustainable ways to better livelihoods, this year’s retreat also invited business leaders and youth.

President Kagame told participants that, “The journey we are on and that we are determined to complete we cannot be taking one step forward and two steps backward.

We have to keep moving forward, even if

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it means moving slowly and taking half a step at a time but we must only move forward.”

Before the closure of the retreat, a special guest the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta briefly addressed the gathering and pointed out how he was impressed with this initiative.

Following discussions, the retreat adopted the following 10 resolutions;

1 2 3 4

To fast-track construction of basic infrastructure to locally avail services for Rwandans in their communities.

To evaluate the performance of government shares in various companies and explore measures to increase profitability.

To examine and put in place measures aimed at addressing challenges that impede the implementation of Made in Rwanda Policy.

To increase efforts for agricultural productivity focusing on:

i.

Extension services;

ii.

Competitiveness of locally produced products including the issue of taxes and fees;

Leadership retreat

iii.

Research and development on crops and plant varieties;

iv.

Reduce agricultural imports especially for commodities that could be produced locally;

v.

Facilitate private sector regarding investment opportunities particularly in the production of raw materials for industries.

5

To increase the capacity utilisation of milk collection centers and partner with the private sector to identify market opportunities including schools.

6

To exploit underutilized irrigated land leveraging efforts of young agricultural professionals while improving land use planning and settlement.

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Leadership retreat

National Leadership Retreat in pictures

7

Strengthen programs to improve the quality of education focusing on:

i.

Construction of more classrooms to reduce overcrowding;

ii.

Recruitment of more qualified teachers for primary and secondary schools;

iii.

Regular update of education curricula

iv.

Revamp the school feeding program.

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To hold accountable school leaders and other concerned officials involved in mismanagement and embezzlement of school resources.

To expedite development of new strategies for financial sustainability of the Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI/ Mutuelle de Santé).

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10

To address constraints hindering the quality of health services including:

i.

Quality of training for medical professionals,

ii.

Strategies to incentivise medical professionals and

iii.

Review electricity and water tariffs in health facilities.

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News in Brief

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Exploration Agency.

Patrick Nyirishema, the Director General of Rwanda Utility and Regulatory Authority (RURA) said that the country’s space ambitions are to heighten its technological advancement.

Rwanda space ambitions grows, orbits satellite On the night of 27 February 2019, Rwanda joined a club of nations that have successfully orbited satellites when it launched ‘Icyerekezo’ satellite in partnership with OneWeb, a global telecommunications company.

Icyerekezo satellite named by students from Nkombo Island in Lake Kivu was launched so that it can help connect Rwandan schools in remote areas to the internet, the program will also involve training students in space technology.

OneWeb, a company building the world’s largest constellation of satellites to bridge the Digital Divide and connect all the unconnected schools of the world sent to the orbit a rocket that had six satellites from the French Guiana space centre, the event was broadcast live on Rwanda Television.

In January, Rwanda also announced that it was to launch its first satellite this year in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japan Aerospace

Rwanda has placed technology at the forefront as a key driver of national development and transformation. The satellite initiative is a symbol of the country’s continued efforts in spearheading uptake and adoption of technologies for sustainable development.

Economy to grow by 7.8% this year Rwanda’s economy is projected to grow by 7.8 per cent in 2019 based on the economy’s robust performance registered in 2018, according to the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, John Rwangombwa.

Presenting the Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Statement

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in February, the Governor said that, “Rwanda’s economic growth remained high in 2018 and is expected to remain robust through 2019.”

“The economy is projected to grow by 7.8 per cent this year, due to low and stable inflation and

subdued exchange rate pressures,” Rwangombwa said.

Good economic performance last year supported the growth and stability of the financial sector, this was partly because of good performance in the agriculture, service and industry sector.

is ranked 3rd on the African continent in terms of attracting the most tourists. Already the 2019 meetings calendar is full and the country is expected to host three to four international meetings a month.

“The Rwanda Convention Bureau intends to assert itself as key event organizational destination body within not just the country, continent, but globally, as an institution that with the continued support of the Government of Rwanda and key partners, remains confident in its delivery of Rwandan world class event organizational standards”, said Mukazayire.

There is already a team of five Rwandan engineers working on the project at the University of Tokyo in Japan while others are training locally in satellite technology readying for the anticipated launch.

Government officials say that satellite technology will be used for different kinds of research, planning, agriculture, predicting weather patterns, including drought and urban planning among others.

Rwanda has placed technology at the forefront as a key driver of national development and transformation.

Conference Tourism to fetch Rwanda over $ 70m by June

News in Brief

This year looks quite good for Rwanda in terms of conference tourism, Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) says the country will fetch more revenues than previously expected at $74 million

by June 2019.

Conference Tourism generated $52 million for the 2018/2019 financial year from an estimated 35,000 international delegates and is

expected to be even more buoyant in 2019 thanks to the strategies implemented by RCB. “We still have the usual touristic advantages of continuing to organize meetings in Rwanda thanks to our visionary leadership,” observed Nelly Mukazayire, C.E.O of RCB. She says that Rwanda is endowed with the usual tourist assets and

Rwanda has attracted a good number of international brand hotels in the Capital Kigali where most of the international conferences are held. However as RCB says other secondary cities such as Rubavu, Musanze, Huye and Nyagatare are up for the task to host international conferences since they also have standard facilities.

Mara phones to start Rwanda production Smartphones will soon be manufactured in Rwanda, the Minister for ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire announced in February that government was in negotiations with Mara Corporation, a Pan-African technology company to open a plant.

Mara phones to be produced

by Mara Corporation may start production as early as April this year according to officials.

Announcing the plan, the minister said that the initiative will further enhance access to digital services.

She said that smartphones were

important ICT tools since there are some digital services that only require smartphones like access to land services among others.

Government wants to ensure that these smartphones are affordable, once production starts people will

be allowed to acquire the gadgets in instalments over a period of 24 months.

The production of phones locally will not be the first time, Rwanda launched the first phone production back in 2008 but were not smartphones. The country has always been driven in the digital sector and wants to close the internet access gap. Government officials say the country has 4G LTE coverage rate at 90% but internet access is very low since people lack smart devices to access it.

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News IN Brief

Rwanda to start producing bottled gas from Lake Kivu

Clare Akamanzi, C.E.O of RDB observed that, “Natural gas is the most environmentally friendly fossil fuel. The natural gas produced by the plant will help reduce the use of wood and charcoal as a cooking fuel as well as diesel fuel in the automotive industry.”

“We therefore welcome the Gasmeth Energy project because not only will it reduce the risk of a methane gas explosion, it will also provide jobs, reduce Rwanda’s natural gas import bill, increase gas exports and provide cleaner cooking fuel for Rwandans”, she said.

L-R: RMB CEO, Dr. Francis Gatare, Gasmeth CEO, Stephen Tierney and RDB CEO, Ms. Clare Akamanzi pose after signing the methane gas extraction agreement at RDB office.

Rwanda will soon start producing bottled gas following a $400 million deal signed between the government and Gasmeth Energy which will extract and process methane gas from Lake Kivu.

In early February, the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) signed the deal on behalf of government to allow Gasmeth Energy start production of bottled gas that is also likely to lessen the emission of methane gas deposits found in Lake Kivu.

Gasmeth Energy will finance, construct and maintain a gas extraction, processing and

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compression project. The project will include a gas extraction plant and separation with methane gas from water and thereafter transport it to an onshore plant where they will compress it. The compressed natural gas will be distributed on both local and international market.

“The natural gas produced by the plant will help reduce the use of wood and charcoal as a cooking fuel as well as diesel fuel in the automotive industry.”

Clare Akamanzi, C.E.O of RDB

The deep waters of Lake Kivu found in the western region of the country contains dissolved methane and carbon dioxide. These gases pose a serious risk to all the oxygen dependent life in the vicinity of the lake as they continue to build up. However, methane gas also provides an energy resource valued at billions of dollars for the Kivu region.

Harnessing youth potential

to promote Made in Rwanda

By Steven Nsamaza When Emelyne Mugisha completed her secondary education in 2015 she was not sure of what she would do or what carrier she would pursue with no jobspecific skills.

In 2016, she got an opportunity to join C&H Garments, a Chinese cloth

manufacturing company that had just opened a factory in Kigali where she was enrolled in a six-month probation period before she could qualify to work at the factory.

“When I had just completed my secondary school studies, I was among the lucky to get a job at C&H and was trained on-

Education and training play an important part since this is a significant skills-building period for the youth and empowers the future of labour force.

the-job for six months.

That is where I gained my initial skills in tailoring,” the 21 year-old young lady explains.

After serving for sometimes at C&H Garments she joined Impano, a sportswear fashion design startup in Kigali. She says the technical skills gained have greatly helped her to get March- April 2019

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Lead Story

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jobs. At her current job she is able to multitask which involves design, cutting and sewing sportswear.

an important part since this is a significant skillsbuilding period for the youth and empowers the future of labour force, Dr Gashumba said.

Jocelyn Niwemutoni and Jeanine Mumporeze are workmates to Emelyne Mugisha and all three shares the same story. They all got their skills through trainings provided by the Chinese investors.

“We acquired job-specific skills that are now helping us to sustain our livelihoods and no longer depend on anyone for financial support” Now Mugisha and her colleagues encourage the youth to use their potential to acquire basic skills to advance their lives and carriers.

While job related skill sets is considered to be an important factor towards transforming livelihood, one of the major challenges most youth are facing is much about acquiring knowledge in running business. This is because there are many opportunities with any skills, which can lead to innovations and any small financial support can create start-ups.

Mugisha says that the exposure she got in the clothing industry is not only limited to tailoring, she is also able to innovate and through innovations she hopes to reach further in the clothing industry in Rwanda.

The number of youths

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Lead Story

Experts are convinced that it is still imperative to encourage greater links between the private sector and education and training institutions. This is because young people must have access to education and training that equips them with the skills employers need. the country can transform into a middle-income country by 2020.

entering the labour market continues to increase every year, according to labour force survey report produced by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, there were 1,0670,850 youths aged 16 to 30 years not in employment nor in education or training in February 2018.

This number is a huge potential that can be recruited to the Made in Rwanda agenda to raise production in the different sectors. To exploit their full potential, youth need basic skills mostly technical that the labour market needs and innovative skills.

Rwanda has been rolling out various initiatives to create employment, through the second Economic Development and poverty Reduction Strategy the country set a target of creating 200,000 off-farm jobs annually to speed up employment growth so that

The number of youths entering the labour market continues to increase every year, according to labour force survey report produced by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda

This target led to government setting different programmes, major among them is promoting technical education and boosting the industry sector. Such an institution to spearhead this is the Rwanda Polytechnic (RP) created in May 2017.

The institution which oversees eight Integrated Polytechnic Regional Colleges and a TVET Trainer Institute for teachers seeks to empower the existing structural entities by harnessing both local and global resources.

Employers on the other hand need to find ways to inform curriculums and support early employment opportunities given that the first job often sets the path for a young person’s career.

Offering on-thejob training to local companies Rwanda’s technical training institutions are starting to adopt hands-on skills development from the traditional theoretical approach. This will benefit both employers get skilled labour force and the youth to acquire skills relevant to the labour market needs.

Dr. James Gashumba, the Vice Chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic explains that much emphasis should be on building capacities for local human resources to create more jobs for youth and promote government’s policy of Made in Rwanda.

Recently, RP entered an agreement with Vision Garment, a local company contracted to start local production of mosquito bed nets. The agreement is to train 475 workers in textile and garments manufacturing.

Education and training play

During the signing

Dr. James Gashumba (right), the Vice Chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic after signing agreement with Richard Rutaysire, the Managing Director of Vision Garment.

ceremony, Dr. Gashumba said that they were to use a Rapid Response Training (RRT) method targeting 300 trainees for a period of four month and an Industrial Based Training (IBT) for the remaining 175 people.

RP has conducted similar trainings in the past, supported through National Employment Programme (NEP- KORA Wigire) and in partnership with different local cloth manufacturing companies about 2,800 mostly women (60%) have been trained.

The companies that RP worked with to conduct these training include C&H Garment Ltd training 1,500 people, HEMA Garments

Ltd trained 500 people, UFACO& VLISCO NL Ltd trained 150, Burera Garments Ltd trained 300 and New Kigali Designers & Outfitters Ltd trained 350 workers.

The official launch of Made-inRwanda policy and brand, Minicom said that it is designed to help boost local industrial contribution to the economic growth while promoting locally made products at the global stage, which will reduce the burden of relying on imports.

Programmes like NEPKora Wigire continue to support the creation of jobs for the youth. This programme collaborates with firms to provide industrial training to new recruits who are later employed by those firms.

Mugisha and her colleagues dreams to start their own business one day thanks to the skills that they have gained from links between the private sector and educational training institutions.

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SUPPLEMENT

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SUPPLEMENT

BRALIRWA PLC contributes towards Made in Rwanda agenda • International brand ‘HEINEKEN’ now produced in Rwanda With the launch of local production of Heineken, BRALIRWA PLC has once again energised the Made in Rwanda agenda. To accommodate this premium beverage the company made a staggering US$10 million additional investment towards production systems of the brewery in Rubavu.

BRALIRWA Plc, Rwanda’s largest beverage producer has been lauded for supporting communities where it operates and promotion of Made in Rwanda agenda.

The appreciation was made during the launch of Heineken Made in Rwanda at BRALIRWA PLC’s brewery in Rubavu District by the Governor of the Western Province Alphonse Munyentwali.

Part of Bralirwa management and other officials in a photo of souvenirs after the official inauguration of Heineken at Rubavu brewery

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Nov /Dec 2018

“As BRALIRWA PLC income grows, the support to people also grows. Concerning social corporate responsibilities, you have been supporting education, health, disaster affected residents and environment protection.

BRALIRWA PLC shares earnings with the community and we understand that even Rubavu residents can get

jobs at the plant. Thank you very much for the support the community gets from BRALIRWA PLC. There is no doubt that as business grows social corporate side won’t be left behind,” the Governor said.

“This is going to be an opportunity for BRALIRWA PLC to grow the business but also for the business

“This is going to be an opportunity for Bralirwa to grow the business but also for the business community in the country and outside. It is another milestone for Made in Rwanda...”

community in the country and outside. It is another milestone for Made in Rwanda and it is a great testimony for those who have already invested in Rwanda that it is very possible and easy to grow their business and a sign for new investors who would come to our country to invest and for us to grow Made in Rwanda products,” he observed.

Following the commercial launch at Kigali Convention Center on 21 December 2018, the product launch at Rubavu brewery attracted government officials including the Commissioner General of Rwanda Revenue Authority, diplomats, partners and clients who were also taken through the process of producing Heineken locally from raw materials, bottling, packaging and labelling until the finished product is ready Nov /Dec 2018

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Lead Story

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Lead Story

“Over the past years, we accelerated every year, made many big investments, put a lot of efforts in people development and setting up the organization,” he said.

“It took us more than one year to make investments, to change installations but also to invest in the people, to know the procedures to get the right quality. The whole brewery we have worked together to make it possible,” Filip added.

BRALIRWA PLC’s Technical Director Sanders Bokelman observed that BRALIRWA PLC has progressed over the years since it established in Rwanda in 1957 with gradual innovations. for the market at the plant’s facilities.

This has increased momentum for BRALIRWA PLC which has made great contributions to Rwanda’s economy, for instance since 2011 it has increased local procurement, production and sales of beverages representing a 30% nominal increase to GDP support up to Rwf155 billion in 2015.

The company contributes 3% to Rwanda’s GDP, 1% of employment and 10-15 of tax revenues of the past years.

The Managing Director of BRALIRWA PLC, Merid Demissie thanked the team that has committed to brewing the fantastic beer and everybody for sharing wonderful moments with the company launching Heineken.

“Although it is only my third week in Rwanda, I can tell you that I see a lot of progress in this country. I know Rwanda from 2008 and 2009 because I came here for another job. The Rwanda I knew that time and the Rwanda that I am seeing now are totally different.

When I hold this Heineken beer in my hand, there is a lot of pride behind it.

It is not just Heineken as such, it is a Heineken brewed with Rwandan pride and we wish you would all be so proud about what we have achieved as a team,” he said.

BRALIRWA PLC’s Rubavu brewery manager, Filip Gheeraert observed that successful production of Heineken beer locally was fruit of collaborative efforts.

“It has been sixty years for our people to develop themselves further. Quality has improved and beers have become tastier over the years. Heineken has been investing huge money in Rwanda and this is because it believes in Africa and Rwanda,” he said.

The new production line has the capacity of brewing 1.3 million Heineken bottles within the period of 28 days.

BRALIRWA PLC has led the beverage industry in Rwanda since 1959 when the first Primus beer was sold to a consumer.

As the biggest company in the country it has promoted Made in Rwanda through producing soft drinks and beers. The company’s beer brand portfolio includes Primus, Mützig, Legend, Amstel, Turbo King and Heineken all produced in Rubavu. In partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, soft drinks are produced at a plant in Kigali, the brands include; Coca-Cola, Fanta Orange and Fanta Citron, Fanta Fiesta, Sprite, Stoney, Krest Tonic and Vital’ O.

BRALIRWA management launching Heineken production at Rubavu bewery

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International News

AGRI-BUSINESS

M AGA Z INE

Rwandan products now selling on Singaporean leading grocery retail

BUILD YOUR BODY STRONG

We invite you to This initiative which willwarm see join our fun, more Rwandan products added and welcoming to the platform was facilitated community.

Let usby the Rwandan High Commission help you get strong, in Singapore in partnership balanced & flexible with Plus 5 trading company in – mentally and Singapore and Business Engineers Asia. physically

Sina Gerard scoops

award for promoting

Made in Rwanda

To diversify its export market, last year the country signed an agreement with China’s Alibaba Made in Rwanda products like establish0783 an eWTP Rwandan products are now Kicukiro-Sonatubes, opp Group Health to Ministry 024 832 Gorillas Coffee, Kinunu Coffee (electronic world trade platform) accessible to customers in Gakiriro-(Gisozi) Umukindo Center 0788 511 213 and Diddy’s chili are already hub in Rwanda which will assist Singapore following the country’s selling in Singapore and the rest Rwandan small and mediumleading grocery retail and delivery CLasses: Body Building Yoga | Karate | Meditation | Running | Boxing of |the world through the online sized enterprises (SMEs) to sell to store, redmart started trading platform.

Chinese consumers. them on its online platform.

BUILD YOUR BODY STRONG

We invite you to join our fun, warm and welcoming community. Let us help you get strong, balanced & flexible – mentally and physically

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CLasses: Body Building | Yoga | Karate | Meditation | Running | Boxing 22 | March - April 2019

By Jejje Muhinde Enterprise Urwibutso founded in 1983 by Gerard Sina has grown from a small shop to multiple business initiatives oriented towards agroprocessing industry. Sina’s model has been unique which has taken his various businesses to greater heights, in particular he leads in the promotion of Made in Rwanda which earned him the 2018 Enterprise of the year in this category.

Gerard Sina is commonly wellknown as Rwanda’s foremost agribusiness entrepreneur. His interests are diverse spanning restaurants, bakeries, a juice and wine factory, a school and extensive land holdings.

Practically starting with nothing, Sina’s rise to the top is a basically because his business is oriented towards agro-processing.

The company he started, Enterprise Urwibutso is located about

45kms north of Kigali City at Nyirangarama in Rulindo District, Northern Province. For those travelling, a stop at Nyirangarama is a must because of delicious and freshly goodies.

Sina’s moving story is the best example that Made in Rwanda has many opportunities particularly Rwanda’s agri-business sector.

“My enterprise is agri-business based; we use technology to add value to our products, for instance, March- April 2019

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AGRI-BUSINESS

M AG A Z I N E

AGRI-BUSINESS

M AGA Z INE

sustainability of his rapidly growing business.

He believes that proper capacity building for his employees is a key driver of taking his growing empire to the next level besides that, to fight poverty and offer employment to the local population.

Currently, Enterprise Urwibutso directly employees about 300 people in its businesses plus other employed indirectly.

He is building an Educational Centre which is a modern academic institution that includes a nursery, primary and secondary levels with facilities where students carry out practical experiments. we use innovation and technology make juice out of pineapples, carrots and bananas,” he explains.

“I started with a small bakery in 1983. My parents were farmers and I baked products from the farm,” Sina recalls. Once Sina’s company was placed on a sound footing, he diversified his portfolio by adding value to his products like; bread, ice cream, tomato ketchup, honey, biscuits, Akandi mineral water, natural jam pastry and flours from soya, maize to mention but a few “The company production philosophy is premised on delivering the best products that can match the standards in some of the most sophisticated markets; the reason is because they are exported to other countries around East Africa and Europe,” he underlined.

Enterprise Urwibutso started producing doughnuts from flour as the first product and others followed.

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March - April 2019

“Agashya” is perhaps the best known amongst the family of drinks by the entrepreneur and among the first locally produced quality fruit juice drink while the “Akabanga” hot sauce is a very popular item sold into foreign markets.

The latest product brought on market by Enterprise Urwibutso is mayonnaise which is called “AKA Mayonnaise”.

“My products become popular and that enabled my businesses to grow”, he says, one of the reasons is because of good leadership and deep reforms from the government which has provided opportunities to boost Made in Rwanda products and eased exportation.

The Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), agricultural experts and consultants have credited his products like bread, juices and ice cream as well as crisps as biofortified food crops with highly nutritious values for feeding children in order to fight chronic malnutrition especially stunting.

Sina has business acumen and is visionary, one way of ascertaining such a claim is his firm belief in what education can do to the

AKA Mayonnaise is the latest product to hit the market

“I thought it worthwhile to support the school project since I saw the need to be responsible for my employees and their families. They work for my company and I make a profit out of their work. The least I can do for them is to give back something to them,” Sina explains.

“That is what I am doing with the school project. The schooling is free and the children can attend from nursery to high school,” he notes.

“This benefits the children and parents but in a way it also benefits me, because, I would rather have educated staff than the unschooled.”

should aspire to deliver the best quality just the way others are doing in developed countries.

Sina explains that the increased capacity of his contracted framers places them at a vantage position of looking beyond his company for sustaining their livelihoods.

Enterprise Urubwitso has state of the art plant production capacity.

We can do this through education

and training. For me I do that through experimental learning from other countries. This exposure enables our operations to be better over time.

To recognise outstanding individuals and businesses Rwanda Development Board (RDB) awarded Gerard Sina with the 2018 Made in Rwanda Enterprise of the year for his tireless efforts to promote innovation in Rwanda.

If anything, education is at the forefront of propelling Enterprise Urwibutso since offering extension services to farmers who enables them to produce more for less and have brought in experiences from other countries which has enabled to achieve the best results.

This makes me very proud, he says, my dream is that Rwandan farmers

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Intiti M AG A Z I N E

MANUFACTURING

AMEKI COLOR: Rwanda’s leading paint maker Ameki Color Ltd was founded in 1982 as Atelier de Meubles de Kigali (AMEKI) a small furniture workshop serving Kigali. At the time, quality raw materials were very expensive since almost everything was imported.

As demand for AMEKI furniture grew, quality raw materials such as varnish to polish the furniture was becoming increasingly expensive and hard to access on the local market.

Jacques Rusirare, the entrepreneur who founded AMEKI turned the challenge into an opportunity by establishing a manufacturing plant to produce those raw materials.

From the small plant producing primary raw materials like vanish for the furniture the demand continued to grow for paint, Rusirare seized the opportunity to expand the paint factory which surpassed the furniture section adopting the name ‘AMEKI COLOR’ and became Rwanda’s first paint company.

“AMEKI COLOR is among the leaders of Made in Rwanda campaign, our company has been innovative, investing and releasing locally produced products long before the campaign started,”

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observes Jean Paul Kayitare, Production and Technical Manager of the company.

The company has maintained its original operational sections and introduced more. Among products produced include Furniture, Varnish, Paper Glue, Wood Glue and Window Putty. The paint section has Industrial Paints made for specific tasks and Decorative Paint in oil and water based categories. Another section manufactures products from Polyester Resins & Fiberglass like Water Tanks, transparent Sheets, Car and Boat body among others.

From the time the paint plant was established, AMEKI COLOR has grown to become Rwanda’s leading paint maker, serving over 50% of the local market and exports to the neighbouring countries.

The factory has a capacity to produce 300 tonnes per day of high-quality and long-lasting paint, this is also supported by fully-equipped laboratory to maintain quality control plus research and development.

Kayitare explains that AMEKI COLOR has the capacity to satisfy the needed

paint on the local market which is distributed through 800 dealers across the country plus production on demand for any customized needs.

Products from polyester resins and fibreglass are fast gaining ground because of their durability, like tanks which can be obtained in different shapes & sizes provide a competitive advantage to other makes. These products are light but very strong, stored water in tanks doesn’t change temperature plus they are easy to repair, clean and repaint.

AMEKI COLOR manufactures other different products from polyester resins and fibreglass which have proved to be durable like transparent (translucent) sheets used in warehouses, Car or Boat bodies and containers that can be produced according to the client’s need and requirement.

Kayitare emphasises that AMEKI COLOR has promoted and utilised the Made in Rwanda policy through all its products and the company is able to package all its products having invested in a packaging facility which up to now only caters for their products.

Intiti M AG A Z I N E

Intiti

HEALTH

M AGA Z INE

Providing digital healthcare services gains ground

of scientists, clinicians and engineers, is combining the ever-growing power of AI with the best medical expertise of humans to deliver unparalleled access to healthcare.

phone and gets prescriptions which can be picked up in any of the 360 Health Centres and 130 partner pharmacies across the country.

The service books any necessary laboratory tests for users and sends the results directly to Babyl doctors who can explain the findings and prescribe treatments or refer cases to district hospitals.

Last year, Babyl Rwanda was recognized as the Innovator of the Year by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). The award recognized Babyl’s huge impact made by offering more than 2,000 consultations per day, working to make healthcare more accessible and affordable to those in need.

By Jejje Muhinde Babyl Rwanda, a digital healthcare provider which launched in 2016 to offer accessible and affordable healthcare in the country has already registered more than two million people, which counts for around 30% of the nation’s adult population.

With its headquarters in UK, the service works with the Rwandan government’s Universal Health Coverage Scheme whereby Babyl services are offered through the scheme in partnership with the

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Ministry of Health & the Rwanda Social Security Board.

The platform enables patients to book appointments and has consultations with medical practitioners over the

The award was part of the RDB’s Business Excellence Awards held in January 2019 in Kigali.

Tracey McNeill, Chief Mobilization Officer of Babyl’s parent company Babylon, said that: “We are very proud that Rwandans trust us to provide them and their families with

HEALTH

safe, high-quality and accessible healthcare.

“We are delighted with how widely Babyl Rwanda is already being used and pleased to partner with the government of Rwanda, who are committed to utilizing technology to deliver services efficiently to all. In line with our mission to make healthcare accessible and affordable to all, we are using AI in our call centre for triage.”

She added that they can use this cutting-edge technology and show how it can transform the delivery of healthcare by using AI for basic triage.

“Our goal is to make this available to frontline health care providers such as Community Based health workers so that we can save the scarce resources of doctors and nurses for more complex cases,” she pointed out.

Innovation continues to play a central role in Babyl’s uptake with the company creating a more accessible platform to reach as many Rwandans as possible.

In the UK, the company’s services can be accessed through a smartphone app, however, in Rwanda though 76.6% of people have mobile phones, only 10% have smart phones.

To adapt its product and service offering to local needs, the company developed a version of the platform, known as USSD that can send text between a mobile phone and a software program, allowing people with feature phones to book appointments and speak to a doctor on their phone.

Babylon is the creator of the world’s first fully integrated mobile health service provider, is a pioneer of digital health services and is helping to solve an increasing range of healthcare challenges with artificial intelligence in several markets including the UK, US, Canada and Asia.

Babylon’s AI has been designed around a doctor’s brain to provide accessible healthcare for millions in the palm of their hands. It can understand and recognize the unique way that humans express their symptoms. Using this knowledge, combined with a patient’s medical history and current symptoms, it provides information on possible medical conditions and common treatments.

In addition, babyl is also able to build a patient’s medical history over time. Doctors are able to view this medical history instantly during consultations, augmenting their decisionmaking.

Babylon, the UK-based parent company, only launched its services in the information and communications technologyfocused on Rwanda two and a half years ago.

The company, consisting March- April 2019

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Intiti M AG A Z I N E

HEALTHY LIVING

If you are new to fitness, you might unknowingly get stuck reading fitness fiction. Bad advice can make achieving your goals next to impossible.

Health and fitness is not just a week-long, it is a life-long pursuit.

Each new gain should bring about a slew of new goals: If you lose 5kilograms, sign up for a group run, if you reach a new squat, see what you can do about your deadlift. There’s no end to how far you can take your fitness. The problem for most is just getting started.

join our fun, warm Intiti and welcoming community. Let us help you get strong, balanced & flexible – mentally and physically M AGA Z INE

The myth and truth about fitness

By Reginald Kariuki

BUILD YOUR7 6 BODY STRONG

As a beginner, you may fall prey to the inconsistencies and falsehoods spread by the uneducated and the untrained. The best way to go into the fitness world is through the doors of knowledge. If you learn a little before you start, you will be much better equipped to deal with setbacks, nutrition questions, plateaus and training debacles.

I will start with the myths that we have heard and not heard about, related to fitness.

1

. MYTH ONE CAN SPOT REDUCE FAT IN ONE PARTICULAR AREA. EXAMPLE BELLY FAT OR FAT IN THE ARMS

TRUTH: Spot reduction is not possible, unless one goes for liposuction surgery which is very expensive and a health risk.

2

. MYTH YOU CANNOT BE FIT PAST THE AGE OF 40.

TRUTH: Age does bring wear and tear, but one can be fit at any age be it 40 or 60, it may be a little challenging than when you were younger but it is possible.

3

. MYTH THE MORE YOU SWEAT THE MORE FAT YOU LOOSE

TRUTH: Sweat has nothing to do with fat loss, it is your body’s way of regulating temperature, fat is oxidized

inside your body, and it is not going to vaporize because you are sweating

4

. MYTH DOING CARDIO BEFORE WEIGHTS WILL HELP YOU GET SHREDDED FASTER

TRUTH: If you run on a treadmill before you hit the weights, you will be too fatigued to train. You need muscle, not miles to burn fat.

5

. MYTH THE ONLY WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT IS BY CUTTING OUT ALL CARBS

TRUTH: The way to lose the right amount of weight is by adopting a

nutrition plan that supports your goal, training with weights, and doing some cardio. Your program should include all of these aspects long enough to see a difference. Nutrition, weights, and cardio -the holy trinity of fitness!

. MYTH

IF YOU WANT TO GET IN SHAPE, YOU HAVE TO RUN FOR LONG DISTANCES

TRUTH: Your fitness success depends upon your goal. If you want to be able to run 10kms without breaking a sweat, then yes, you’ll have to run.

If your goal is fat loss or muscle gain, running for miles and miles may not be the best way to lose pounds. The more efficient your body becomes at running, the fewer calories you’ll burn.

HEALTHY LIVING

. MYTH

BIG MUSCLES ARE STRONG MUSCLES

TRUTH: There’s a difference between training your muscles to be big and training your muscles to be strong. For physique athletes, size and shape—not strength—is the ultimate goal. For athletes, strength for maximum effort is most important.

I’m not saying that big muscles aren’t strong, but put a bodybuilder and an Olympic lifter in front of a loaded barbell and see who can clean the most weight. Either person is capable of being strong or built—it’s all a matter of training for a specific goal.

The author is a Fitness Consultant based in Kigali.

Email:reginaldkariuki@gmail.com

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0783 024 832 0788 511 213

We invite you to join our fun, warm and welcoming community. Let us help you get strong, balanced & flexible – mentally and physically

YOUR BODY CLasses: Body Building | YogaSTRONG | Karate | Meditation | Running | Boxing Kicukiro-Sonatubes, opp Health Ministry Gakiriro-(Gisozi) Umukindo Center

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Intiti

Women

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Q&A: Passion drove me to photography Women entrepreneurs who follow their passion and turn it into a business are more likely to find success, as they are driven each day to fulfill their creative ambitions.

By JEJJE MUHINDE Passion, skill and creativity led Sandrine Gatera into a maledominated field of photography.

The 28-year old travel and tourism graduate shared with journalist Jejje Muhinde about her life as an entrepreneur and her vision for the future.

Tell us about yourself and your startup.

I am Sandrine Gatera, I studied travel and tourism management at my university, I also trained as a photographer and graphic designer.

After five years working with a media company, I founded my own called LA FOTOLIA Ltd, which deals in photography, videography and promotional materials services.

What inspired you to start your company?

Passion inspired me to start

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working for myself. When I was an employee it was very tough, I was overworked in all departments as a photographer, editor, accountant, adviser, human resource, storekeeper and as a marketer all at the same time.

I had no defined position yet there were people in charge of some of the tasks I performed. My employer would have me doing all that work because I did it overwhelmingly well, on the other hand, it was an advantage to learn more, gain experience and start mine.

Why should anyone want your services or products?

Nine years in this domain has earned me great experience and clients to have trust working with us. Offering quality services and on time has pulled many individual clients, companies and NGO’s our way.

We have overcome many challenges along the way which made us strong and having a good team on board has played a big part in overcoming some of these challenges plus investing in modern and quality equipment.

Quality in what we offer matters so such, our images should not be a pile of all things, I can use composition, lighting is a key in our photo shoots. The secret I have employed is to work tirelessly with my team to avail to clients with quality photography and video services.

Personally, my power is making clients feel at ease in front of the camera when its wedding photography for instance, I make them feel calm and confident, it shows in their images. I’m not just photographer, I’m a confidence crusader.

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

My dreams came true, when I see where I am and where I came from it gives me hope for the future of my business. Likewise, we are playing a role in developing our society, providing services, employing Rwandans and inspiring the youths as well as women.

I love taking daily action towards my goals and watching the story of my success unfold. As I discover my authentic self through my own experience, I can share my lessons with others and hopefully impact and inspire them too.

I love seeing my clients get emotional when the veil of self-

Women

judgment, self-criticism, and self-deprecation is lifted to reveal a woman who can see herself, accept herself and love herself, perhaps for the first time.

What are your future plan and aspirations for your company?

To expand the business by opening out more outlets not only in Kigali but in other provinces. There really is nothing to fear when making huge life-changing decisions as long as you have some backup plan. What is the worst that could happen?

What’s the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to startup?

Know yourself first - discover yourself. Find out what makes you happy, what you would do even if you didn’t get paid so much for doing it.

Once you discover that and why you need to do it, remind yourself of the endless possibilities and outcomes of your efforts every day.

There will be days when you question the long hours, the hard work and the lack of money, but when you know why you’re doing what you’re doing, you’ll get on with doing what needs to be done.

Women we are able, and I can tell them that there is nothing we can achieve without working hard.

There are many opportunities in Rwanda and my advice is to make use of them, by developing own projects and converting them to reality.

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Intiti

Opinion

M AGA Z INE

Coffee, Cocoa, and the Cutting Edge gaps in financing, agricultural training, and tools for advance planning.

By Steve Hollingworth

That morning ritual loved by millions, a simple cup of coffee, may one day be a thing of the past. New research shows that 60% of the world’s 124 species of wild coffee face a mounting threat of extinction, mostly as a result of deforestation. This potential loss of genetic diversity would, in turn, limit the ways in which coffee could be adapted to a changing climate and disease threats.

It’s not just coffee that is in danger. Deforestation is also threatening cocoa and the future of chocolate. Forest loss in the Amazon is eliminating wild relatives of cocoa, while in West Africa it is quickly depleting soils and making crop cultivation much harder.

Soil depletion, along with aging trees and the increased risk of pests and disease, is threatening the livelihoods of the already-poor small farmers who produce the vast majority of the world’s cocoa and coffee.

With 25 million coffee producers and up to six

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This is where technology can play a key role. Data, digital and remote-sensing technology, and the Internet of Things represent the future of agriculture, and are already in use on big farms in rich countries. But technology can also help small farms in poorer countries, where innovative approaches must be developed, piloted, supported, and scaled. million cocoa farmers (and their families) worldwide, any effort to end this cycle of human and natural-resource poverty must match the size and scope of the problem.

Fortunately, the smart use of cutting-edge technology makes it possible to take on the challenge.

New initiatives must help farmers rapidly adopt sustainable practices and increase the productivity of existing agricultural land, so that they can improve their own wellbeing and ease pressure on forests. Efforts to alleviate poverty among farmers also need to address

New initiatives must help farmers rapidly adopt sustainable practices and increase the productivity of existing agricultural land, so that they can improve their own wellbeing and ease pressure on forests.

Africa has produced numerous ingenious examples of this. In Ghana, collaboration between agribusiness, civil society, and academia has led to SAT4Farming, which uses digital and remote-sensing technology to create farm development plans (FDPs) for smallholders. Developed

by Grameen Foundation in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance and Mars, the digital FDP incorporates farm data such as environmental conditions, household financing, and production levels, and applies “smart logic” to generate seven-year plans that guide

smallholders’ investments.

These plans, similar to profitand-loss statements, are then adjusted every year based on farmers’ decisions.

One early adopter of a digital FDP is Peter Oppong, a cocoa farmer in Ghana for the past 17 years. Based on its recommendations, Peter began to replace his aging trees. Because of the high costs, he started with just one-quarter of his land, and plans to add another quarter each year until he finishes.

Meanwhile, other, less costly steps, such as tree pruning, have yielded quick results.

Peter was fortunate to have the funds to rehabilitate his farm. Many cocoa and coffee farmers do not. And without access to financing, even the best agronomic advice is for naught. Here, too, radical new approaches are needed.

One such approach is FarmDrive in Kenya, which gives lenders detailed credit scores on smallholder farmers using data from farmers’ mobile phones, alternative data (such as a farmer’s adoption of good agricultural practices), and machine learning. This information gives lenders greater assurance, boosting available credit for smallholders.

Meanwhile, according to the chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut, the financial sector could give farmers access to affordable microcredit to fund

good farming practices. The company says replanting just one hectare of cocoa costs approximately $2,400, and it estimates that thousands of hectares in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire need replanting. Its West African supply chain alone would need some $250 million in risk guarantees for loans to smallholder farmers.

Innovative funding is needed in the coffee supply chain, too. Starbucks, for example, has established a $50 million Global Farmer Fund that supports farmers financially, including for renovation efforts. The fund has benefited more than 60 cooperatives in eight countries, and over 40,000 farmers.

Financing the transformation of the coffee and cocoa supply chains is a huge undertaking that calls for increased investment at all levels and a variety of approaches, including public-

Innovative funding is needed in the coffee supply chain, too.

Starbucks, for example, has established a $50 million Global Farmer Fund that supports farmers financially, including for renovation efforts.

Opinion

private lending partnerships for mitigating and sharing risks, and specially tailored microloan products and digital tools to assess creditworthiness. The smart use of big data can facilitate such initiatives, and provide deep insights into farmers’ needs and capacities.

Today, far more is at stake than the comfort of a bar of chocolate or a morning hit of caffeine. Improving the wellbeing of smallholder farmers and their families could propel millions out of poverty. It also would have a profound, positive impact on both economic development and the ecosystems that support agriculture.

Steve Hollingworth is President and CEO of Grameen Foundation Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2019.

www.project-syndicate.org

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Sports

M AGA Z INE

Sports

Tour du Rwanda

Lessons to be learned from the 2019 competition By jejje MUhinde Unlike the last few editions when Rwandan cyclists dominated home cycling competition, this year’s Tour du Rwanda race has left many questions and lessons to be learned.

Since attaining the International Cycling Union (UCI) status in 2009, the 10th edition of Tour du Rwanda has grown in stature, provided a launch pad into Europe for Africa riders.

This year’s cycling competition was a new chapter, the tour was moved to February, and then upgraded its status to first class International Cycling Union 2.1 standard hence becoming the 2nd African race at a 2.1 UCI level, after Gabon’s La Tropicale Amissa Bongo.

The eight-stage race with sixteen teams and 78 riders attracted a record number of 25 countries.

The 953.6km course race

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March - April 2019

started with the 112.5km opening stage at Amahoro Stadium, from Kigali to Rwamagana District and back to the capital.

Depending on who you would listen to, this year’s race has left lessons to be learnt, firstly upgrading attracted other competitive teams like UCI World Tour Team Astana Proteam and four Pro-continental teams.

The competition level and

quality was high, compared with the previous editions it was not easy for home riders to dominate on home routes, rarely the race ends without any Rwandan rider winning a stage, and however this year it happened.

The reality is, the utter dominance of local riders like champion Samuel Mugisha, Valens Ndayisenga or Joseph Areruya was nowhere, and they had no legs to challenge

Kudus’s experience at the world races gave him the edge over others, he had already participated in six 3- Grand Tours, the Tour du France in 2015 but also the Vuelta Espana and the Giro Italia.

for a stage win this year.

yellow, and recorded a 3rd stage win.

It was not like the last three editions for sure, Samuel Mugisha won Kigali-Huye stage last year, out of seven stages, the home riders won five in 2017 while a year before they won three stages.

Kudus’s experience at the world races gave him the edge over others, he had already participated in six 3- Grand Tours, the Tour du France in 2015 but also the Vuelta Espana and the Giro Italia.

Instead of fielding three teams like in the previous editions, Rwanda had to register one national team; the other had to be a professional club. Team Benediction was the only official home team with the ticket from UCI status.

What this means, is that more Rwanda cycling clubs should attain the UCI Pro-status in the coming future, in addition they should race at World UCI races to improve and gain the required experience like proriders.

Local cycling body FERWACY should look at new strategies to develop the sport, through talent detection to groom more upcoming youth who can replace those who become assigned to foreign professional teams.

Tour du Rwanda 2019

rewards

Merhawi Kudus Astana Pro Team Yellow jersey Yakob Debesay Abreham Eritrea King of the Mountain It was no doubt, Astana’s Pro team rider Merhawi Kudus, the Eritrean left no chance to his rivals winning this year yellow jersey.

AstanaTeam was superior.

They came to Rwanda with only four riders and all the pressure to win. And they still controlled, protected their

Rohan Du Plooy South Africa 26 points Best Sprinter Yakob Debesay Abreham Best Young rider Merhawi Kudus Astana Pro Team Africa rider Eritrea best team of the tour March- April 2019

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Review

Tourism success

The fastest road car

Nyungwe National Park offers a rare and important habitat for many species, especially primates and birds. And at over 1000 km2, Nyungwe is Africa’s largest protected mountain rainforest.

With about 310 bird species, 26 of which are endemic, Nyungwe is one of the most important — and still undiscovered — birdwatching destinations in Africa.

Reaching to almost 3000 meters above sea level with Mount Bigugu the highest point in the Park, Nyungwe’s forests extend to altitudes occupied by few other forests in Africa.

Pininfarina Battista

Electric vehicles are the future. The 2019 Geneva motor show have displayed the most important new cars and launches, the fastest road car in the world was revealed - and it’s electric.

Pininfarina Battista got the top spot at the show, the £2m super car emits zero-emissions and can do 0-62mph in less than two seconds, 186mph in less than 12 seconds. The car has a top speed of more than 250mph and does

Nyungwe is also home to one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of chimpanzees and a sometimes noisy, acrobatic combination of other primates such as Ruwenzori colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys.

280 miles on one charge.

Its brake horse power (bhp) is equivalent to 1,900, about twice that of a Formula 1 car and this is Automobili Pininfarina’s portfolio of luxury electric vehicles.

A variety of hiking and walking trails criss-cross the Park leading to a canopy walk, primate tracking adventures, the southernmost source of the Nile and ecotourism attractions. The park includes a colorful array of orchids, butterflies, moths and other insects.

The first hand-crafted Battista is expected to roll out in 2020 and will be the most powerful road-legal car ever designed and built in Italy.

No more than 150 will be made.

Partner with to tell the Made in Rwanda story.

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March - April 2019

Nov /Dec 2018

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