India Strengthens Entrepreneurial
Ecosystem in Rwanda
...Rwanda - India Entrepreneurship Development Centre
Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan inaugurating the Rwanda-India Entrepreneurship Development Center at Kigali. Also, on the occasion were (L-R) Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII; Mr. Puneet Roy Kundal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and Mr. Oscar Kerketta, High Commissioner of India, Kigali, Rwanda.
On 15th November 2021, the Rwanda – India Entrepreneurship Development Centre was inaugurated in Kigali, Rwanda at the hands of Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan. The Centre has been established by EDII, under an agreement with the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India. This is the sixth international ED Centre set up by EDII. Before this, the Institute has set up Centres in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.
The Centre will work towards instilling entrepreneurial culture amongst indigenous entrepreneurs and equipping them with adequate knowledge and experience in Entrepreneurship. New Entrepreneurs will be promoted through education, training and business advisory services to potential entrepreneurs, especially the youth. Cluster development, Performance Improvement and Growth of Existing Entrepreneurs would be emphasized on, in addition to programmes on New Enterprise Creation. The experts at the centre would also extend technical assistance in help in accessing finance to ensure creation of enterprises by trainees. The hand holding and follow up support will ensure a higher success rate. In order to ensure sustenance of entrepreneurship development activities in the region, the Institute will also institutionalize a cadre of competent trainer-motivators and business counsellors and influence policy making process at the national and provincial levels to float policies that are entrepreneur-friendly.
Post inauguration and placement of Advisor at the Centre, by EDII, the first New Enterprise Creation programme was launched in Kigali on 16th November. 30 potential entrepreneurs got trained in 18-day programme. Simultaneously, EDII team in Rwanda conducted Business Opportunity Identification Exercise and have developed at least 50 to 70 project profiles suited to local requirements and conditions.
The Centre will widespread entrepreneurship in Rwanda by intermediating between local business environment, government policies, finance, entrepreneurship training and startup ecosystem sensitization.
