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Rwanda Development Board

Coordinates: 01°57′19″S 30°06′10″E / 1.95528°S 30.10278°E / -1.95528; 30.10278
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Rwanda Development Board
Company typeParastatal
IndustryInvestment and export promotion, tourism and conservation
Founded2009
HeadquartersKigali, Rwanda
Key people
Afrika Jean Guy
(Executive Director and CEO)[1]
ProductsInvestment licenses, tax waivers, investment advisory, serviced land, SME training, tourism permits
WebsiteHomepage

Rwanda Development Board (RDB), is a government department that integrates all government agencies responsible for the attraction, retention and facilitation of investments in the national economy.[2]

Overview

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The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) was established in 2009 to coordinate, spur and promote national economic development. RDB includes agencies responsible for "business registration, investment promotion, environmental clearances, privatization and specialist agencies which support the priority sectors of ICT and tourism as well as SMEs and human capacity development in the private sector".[2] The executive director is a cabinet-level position and the incumbent is appointed by and reports directly to the president of Rwanda.[2][3] RDB measures its achievements in (a) direct foreign and domestic investments, (b) increased exports and (c) number of jobs created.[4]

Visit Rwanda sponsorship

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In May 2018, Arsenal announced Visit Rwanda as the club's first official shirt sleeve sponsor and the club's official tourism partner in a three-year £10 million per year deal. The deal was extended to another four years in 2021.[5][6]

In December 2019, Paris Saint-Germain signed a three-year €8-10 million per year deal with Visit Rwanda as the club's official tourism partner. The Visit Rwanda logo will also appear on the back of the men's training kit and on the shirt sleeve of the women's team's kit.[7][8][9] In May 2023, the deal was extended to 2025.[10]

In May 2021, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) signed a sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda as a founding and host partner of the BAL. Visit Rwanda will be showcased on BAL team uniforms.[11] The deal was extended to another five years in 2023.[12]

In August 2023, Bayern Munich signed a five year partnership deal with Visit Rwanda as a football development and tourism promotion partner.[13]

The Visit Rwanda initiative has had a very positive effect on Rwanda’s economy. By partnering with big sports teams like Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, the country has become more popular around the world. This has helped attract more tourists, leading to more money being made from tourism about $498 million in 2019, contributing 13% to Rwanda’s economy. It also created many new jobs and encouraged foreign businesses to invest in the country. These deals promote eco-tourism, business travel and job creation, helping Rwanda grow even more.[14][15]

The sponsorship deals have been met with criticism due to allegations of human rights abuse, with claims that Rwandan president Paul Kagame is using sportswashing to enhance the country's reputation[16][17] and potentially "persuade the international community to overlook alleged human right violations in the country."[18] Another criticism concerned the fact that Rwanda, one of the poorest nations in the world, was paying millions of dollars to some of the world's richest football clubs (for example, Arsenal received $39 million for the initial 3-year deal) instead of using the money to alleviate poverty in the country.[18][19] In 2021, when Arsenal's initial three-year partnership was about to expire, prominent figures including journalist Michela Wrong and sports writer Barney Ronay were critical of the club's decision to renew the deal given Rwanda's human rights situation.[20][21] In 2025, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo called on Arsenal, PSG, and Bayern Munich to drop their sponsorship deals with Visit Rwanda, citing Rwanda's alleged involvement with the M23 paramilitary group operating in the Congo and accused of numerous human rights violations.[22][23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Perezida Kagame yagize Jean-Guy Afrika Umuyobozi Mukuru wa RDB". RBA (in Kinyarwanda). 2025-01-13. Retrieved 2025-01-13.
  2. ^ a b c TIGC (28 March 2017). "Business Registration in Rwanda: The Rwanda Development Board, A One-Stop Shop for Investors". Kigali: Theiguides.org (TIGC). Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  3. ^ Kimenyi, Felly (31 August 2017). "Rwanda gets new Cabinet, who is in?". New Times (Rwanda). Kigali. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  4. ^ Administrator (3 September 2013). "Rwanda is developing a world-class business climate to attract investors: Vivian Kayitesi, Head of the Investment Promotion and Implementation Department, Rwanda Development Board". Singapore: Macigindaba.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  5. ^ Meyers, Billy (2023-01-14). "Why Arsenal have Visit Rwanda on their shirts". HITC.
  6. ^ Dixon, Ed (2021-08-17). "Report: Arsenal and Visit Rwanda seal "UK£40m" sleeve sponsorship extension". SportsPro.
  7. ^ "Rwanda signs deal with Paris St Germain to promote tourism". Reuters. 2019-12-04.
  8. ^ "Paris Saint-Germain Signs Visit Rwanda Training + Women's Main Shirt Deal". Footy Headlines. 2019-12-04.
  9. ^ Bates, Pearce (2019-12-05). "PSG confirm Visit Rwanda training kit deal". SportsPro.
  10. ^ Mahadik, Gauresh (2023-05-11). "PSG land sponsorship extension with Visit Rwanda". SportsMint Media. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  11. ^ "VISIT RWANDA AND RWANDAIR JOIN BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE AS OFFICIAL PARTNERS". www.rwandair.com. May 13, 2021. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  12. ^ "Basketball Africa League And Rwanda Announce Five Year Extension". www.africa.com. 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  13. ^ "FC Bayern and Visit Rwanda agree partnership until 2028". fcbayern.com. 27 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Contribution of Tourism in the Economy of Rwanda". www.bookly.africa. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  15. ^ "How Rwanda is building a sustainable economy through tourism". www.breakingtravelnews.com. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  16. ^ Smith, Alan (2021-09-21). "Arsenal face moral and social questions over Visit Rwanda sponsorship deal". Football.London.
  17. ^ Millar, Colin (2022-02-21). "Arsenal's Visit Rwanda sponsorship and the dark side to a sportswashing agenda". The Mirror.
  18. ^ a b Voets, Thomas Yaw (2023-03-01). ""Visit Rwanda": a well primed public relations campaign or a genuine attempt at improving the country's image abroad?". Place Branding and Public Diplomacy. 19 (1): 143–154. doi:10.1057/s41254-021-00206-6. ISSN 1751-8059.
  19. ^ Reyntjens, Filip (2018-05-28). "When the poor sponsor the rich: Rwanda and Arsenal FC". The Conversation. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
  20. ^ Ronay, Barney (2021-03-05). "Does Arsenal's Visit Rwanda shirtsleeve deal remain a 'compelling fit'?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
  21. ^ Smith, Alan (2021-09-21). "Arsenal face moral and social questions over Visit Rwanda sponsorship deal". Football London. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
  22. ^ "Arsenal, Bayern Munich and PSG told to 'reconcile conscience' over Rwanda sponsorship deal". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
  23. ^ "DR Congo asks clubs to end Visit Rwanda sponsorship". Reuters. 2025-02-02. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
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01°57′19″S 30°06′10″E / 1.95528°S 30.10278°E / -1.95528; 30.10278

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