Exchange and FIT at the Rwandan business forum
Text by Rwandan Business Development Manager Igor Kana
Flanders Investment and Trade hosted a dynamic three day business forum aimed at strengthening ties between Rwandan and Belgian companies. Organized by Flanders Investment and Trade in collaboration with the European Business Chamber Rwanda (EBCR), the event brought together government officials, industry leaders, and representatives from key sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, transport, construction, and environmental services.
Through keynote addresses from esteemed officials such as the Rwandan Development Board’s Chief Investment Officer and Belgium Development Agency representatives, the forum underscored Rwanda's favorable business climate and government incentives designed to attract foreign investors. Panel discussions shed light on critical topics, including financing industrial projects, integrating Belgian technologies into local industries, and developing sustainable urban infrastructure.
Long-term collaboration
By creating a platform for Rwandan and Belgian stakeholders to engage in direct dialogue, share innovative solutions, and align visions for mutual growth, the forum not only strengthened economic ties but also emphasized the shared commitment to fostering sustainable development. For many entrepreneurs, the event served as a launchpad to establish long-term collaborations, setting the foundation for impactful projects that will drive industrial innovation and urban transformation in Rwanda.
The highlight of the event for Exchange vzw was an evening reception hosted by the Embassy of Belgium, which welcomed a diverse group of entrepreneurs, including entrepreneurs supported by Exchange. This exclusive networking event offered a conducive environment for forging meaningful partnerships, facilitating knowledge exchange, and identifying investment opportunities that align with Rwanda's industrial and urban growth objectives.


Country Programme Manager Ariane Molderez: During the event, we had the opportunity to connect our Rwandan entrepreneurs with Flemish entrepreneurs in sectors such as animal feed and manufacturing. We also organised an on-site visit of one of our potential new programmes, a fish production company also supported by Enabel, and strengthened the ties between public actors in Rwanda and the Belgian cooperation actors, Enabel and The Belgian Embassy. We are grateful to FIT to have embarked with us on this adventure!

