Kenya leads in Rwanda on investiment

MK254 · 2013-12-06T03:55:32+00:00

Kenya has opened up its lead as the biggest East African investor in Rwanda with its expanding ventures in education, retail and services. Its investment, estimated at $100 million in 2011, is spread across all sectors of the economy and business executives believe it has crossed the $150 million mark. Recently, a delegation of 75 representatives from Kenyan businesses was in Rwanda to explore investment opportunities in the country. Rwanda is business friendly. It has a stable economy and the economic outlook is positive, Kenyas ambassador to Rwanda, John Mwangemi, told The EastAfrican. The diplomat however said some Kenyan investors had expressed concerns over contract enforcement in the country. In case of a dispute, the speed of resolving it is quite slow. It has taken KCB Rwanda more than two years to recover some Rwf3 billion ($6.25 million) that it lent to a Kenyan-owned real estate company in Rwanda, DN International, which is in liquidation, through the commercial courts. A recent bid by KCB Rwanda to auction its debtors assets was challenged by the companys other creditors, who insist that the bank should compromise and drop accumulated interest on the loan to make it possible for them to be paid. KCB Rwanda insists it has principal rights over the property as provided for by the countrys mortgage law. Meanwhile, Uchumi Supermarkets is set to open at least three branches in Kigali and other towns early next year following its recent cross-listing on the local bourse. Cross-listing on the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) is dominated by Kenyan firms Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Nation Media Group (NMG) and now Uchumi. Good potential in market Uchumi CEO Dr Jonathan Ciano said the retail chains board was motivated by the conviction that there is great potential in the Rwandan market and that the countrys leadership is keen to see the emergence of regional institutions that support East African economic integration. As our drive towards regional growth gains momentum it is timely that as we plan to set up Uchumi branches in this market we also empower investors here to stake a claim to the ownership of Uchumi, and all our East African citizens should pride themselves on owing a piece of the supermarkets, he said at the cross-listing ceremony.The retailer is expected to face stiff competition from supermarkets such as Nakumatt Holdings, the first Kenyan retail chain to set foot in Rwanda; Simba, which belongs to a local investor; and the Chinese-owned T-2000. While the Kenyan expansion has been led by banks KCB, Equity Bank, Fina Bank and, most recently, the acquisition of a majority shareholding in the Commercial Bank of Rwanda (BCR) by Kenyas I&M Bank the latest major investments are in the education sector. Private Kenyan institutions of higher learning Mount Kenya University and Jomo Kenyatta University have opened branches in Rwanda, with the formers enrolment estimated at 4,000 in three campuses across Kigali. Kenya opens up lead in investments in Rwanda - Business - www.theeastafrican.co.ke

Thread starter MK254
Start date Dec 6, 2013

MK254

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Kenya leads in Rwanda on investiment

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