November 2008

The Bicycle as a Symbol of Coffee and Tourism in Rwanda

Like Colombia’s emblematic Willy’s Jeeps loaded with bags of coffee beans or Costa Rica’s ox-drawn carts, Rwanda also has a symbol that tourists associate with coffee and rural life in general. It is the wooden bicycle.

The bicycle has become an intricate part of Rwandan society and the economic activities of the country in general. It is the primary source of transport for produce and people in the rural areas, and is integral to the coffee production process, helping to transport ready-picked bourbon berries to the next phase of production. The berries are highly perishable, and the quicker they reach the washing station, the better for quality.
Bicycles can also be used to transport green beans to nearby roasteries, if necessary.

SPREAD and Project Rwanda have taken this a step further by designing and in some cases providing farmers with coffee bikes equipped to transport heavy coffee loads on the extended back portion of the bike. Studies are still under way, but preliminary findings indicate that the new coffee bikes shorten the transport time by four or five times the regular time taken with wooden bikes or other modes of transport, thus drastically improving the farmers’ productivity and making their lives easier.

The coffee bikes can certainly be used to tour coffee plantations and washing stations in true rural tourism fashion.

The coffee bikes may end up having multiple uses that stretch from farming, produce collection and transportation to new avenues of international tourism. But it is the bicycle in general that has been embraced by Rwandans and has grown to become a symbol of coffee, outdoor tourism and life in Rwanda.

Rwanda Merges Agencies

Rwanda merges agencies Rwanda’s Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA), Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN), Privatization Secretariat, Rwanda Commercial Registration Services Agency, Rwanda Information and Technology Authority (RITA), Center for Support to Small and Medium Enterprises (CAPMER), the Human Resource and Institutional Capacity Development Agency (HIDA), Department of Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) to become one.

KIGALI, RWANDA – The government of Rwanda seeks to undertake a major institutional reform that is expected see about seven parastatals merged into a single body for better delivery.

The reform seeks to put seven agencies into a single body to be called Rwanda Development Board (RDB) that would harmonise activities to ensure quick and timely service delivery for quick gains and innovation. The aim of the reform is to serve better the private sector.

The chamber of deputies in the Rwandan parliament recently passed the controversial bill paving way for RDB to be established.This comes following the cabinet meeting chaired by President Kagame that backed the idea.

The looming reform is targeting Rwanda’s Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA), Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN), Privatization Secretariat, the newly created Rwanda Commercial Registration Services Agency, Rwanda Information and Technology Authority (RITA), Center for Support to Small and Medium Enterprises (CAPMER), the Human Resource and Institutional Capacity Development Agency (HIDA) and a department of Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA).

The bill which was presented to the law makers by the state minister in charge of industry and investments in the ministry of trade and industry, Mr. Vincent Karega seeks to create an enabling environment for mobilizing local and foreign direct investments done under one roof.

According to the minister, establishment of a single window institution to handle services given to the private sector is the way to go. Facing a multitude of law makers, the minister cited at Singapore and Ireland, the two giants that are doing better in business because they have placed services offered to the private sector in one umbrella origination.

The RDB will harmonise activities for quick and sustainable development in the country. It also seeks to put together services needed by the private sector as well as adding more efforts in ICT to create opportunities for business operators and investments in the country.

The bill also anticipates that by merging seven institutions, RDB will ensure that taxpayer’s money is purposely spent because of harmonization of institutions, activities and services hence proper management system.

It is proposed that the RDB will be under senior management of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with a renewable five year contract, who will also sit at its chairmanship. The RDB will be reporting to the president’s office.

The targeted institutions have been key contributors to the country’s economy especially in mobilisation of local and foreign investments, capacity building, and ICT as well export promotion.

Rwanda strives to become a middle income country by increasing its current Gross Domestic Product per capita from $250 to $900 by 2020. However, this requires tremendous efforts to push the country to expand its economy by over 600%.

Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA), whose role is to mobilise FDIs and promote exports, has been a key player in contributing to the country’s vision.