Famously known as the land of a thousand hills, THE EAST AFRICAN COUNTRY OF RWANDA is buzzing with new energy. Over the last three decades, the country has made significant strides in multiple sectors, from agriculture to automation to infotech. On these pages, we offer a glimpse of the ideas and innovations powering a country on its path to becoming a middle-income economy.
It’s almost 8AM and the sun smiles be- nevolently over the verdant hills and valleys of Kigali. Acres of palm trees as far as the eyes can see line either side of a long and winding road ahead. The splendorous cityscapes slowly awaken to the busi- ness of life on a hot, humid morning in October, with not a hint of rain. But no matter what the elements ordain, the predictable hum of the mid-morning traffic and rush hour depicts a city readying to face the hustle and bustle of yet another day in the hilly country.
The tiny, landlocked East African nation of about 14 million people with its clean, secure and safe streets – it’s one of the safest countries in the world – has the highest population density in Africa, as per the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
But Rwanda has come a long way from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi that claimed almost a million lives, and is marching towards sustain- able prosperity, aspiring to become a middle-income country by 2035. As President Paul Kagame, who has been widely credited for Rwanda’s recovery, alluded to during the 30-year commemoration of the genocide in April this year, it has been a long and tough journey, but the country has made “tremendous progress” working together. According to the World Bank, in 2023, Rwanda’s economy showcased resilience and adaptability, achieving a robust growth rate of 7.6% in the face of global monetary stringency, challenging financial conditions, and downturns in international trade.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently reported that despite challenging external conditions and ongoing fiscal consolida- tion, Rwanda’s economy maintains robust growth. “Rwanda’s growth momentum remained strong, notwithstanding the challenging ex- ternal environment,” the IMF’s Ruben Atoyan said in a statement in October 2024. “Real GDP is projected to grow by 8.3% in 2024, driven by strong performance of the services, and construction sectors, and recovery in food crop production.” FORBES AFRICA was on the ground in Rwanda to capture the re- covery, resilience and resolve of a country working hard for a better future in Africa.
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