Equity's Trade Mission opens Rwanda to regional investors, cross border opportunities

More than 70 participants from 10 nationalities, including business leaders, investors, policymakers and private-sector stakeholders, are participating in the 2026 Rwanda Trade and Investment Roadshow organised by Equity. In Rwanda delegates continue to explore the country’s business and investment landscape, engage private-sector players and visit businesses across key sectors.

The Business Roundtable brought together participants to explore Rwanda’s business outlook and opportunities across sectors including agriculture, coffee, manufacturing, technology and emerging industries.

The engagements provided delegates with a first-hand understanding of the operating environment, business models and investment opportunities in Rwanda, while creating platforms for commercial partnerships and cross-border collaboration.

During the Business Roundtable, a dedicated Coffee Value Chain panel brought together industry players to discuss opportunities across Rwanda’s coffee sector, including value addition, skills development, processing, market access and opportunities to strengthen the coffee value chain. The panelists included Perpetue Mukamusinga, Founder and Managing Director, Integrated Barista Training Centre, and Michaelle Kubwimana, Managing Director, Kinunu Agro Processing.

Speaking during the panel, Michaelle Kubwimana, Managing Director, Kinunu Agro Processing, highlighted the potential for collaboration with Equity, saying: “I was delighted to know that actually Equity has solutions for what I'm looking for in terms of partnering, working with women programs, but also through the Equity Foundation that would actually support our impact project.”

The discussion highlighted opportunities to strengthen Rwanda’s coffee value chain through skills development, increased local value addition, improved processing and stronger connections to regional and international markets.

The Business Forum also featured a Doing Business in Rwanda panel, which brought together government and private-sector representatives to discuss Rwanda’s investment environment, business opportunities and the factors shaping the ease of doing business in the country. The panelists included Divine H. Nakanyange, Head, SEZAR and Export Facilitations, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and Armand Muganga, Business Development Manager, Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC).

Speaking during the panel, Divine H. Nakanyange, Head, SEZAR and Export Facilitations, RDB, said: “Investors come to us because they want to understand the opportunities available in Rwanda and what it takes to establish and grow a business here. Our role is to provide timely information, connect investors with the right institutions and accompany them throughout their investment journey."

"From understanding the regulatory environment, incentives and market access to identifying suitable locations and navigating sector-specific requirements, we work to ensure investors have the information and support they need to make informed decisions. Company registration in Rwanda takes a maximum of six hours, and beyond establishment, our aftercare teams continue to facilitate investors as they implement, expand and explore opportunities within Rwanda and across regional markets. For transformational investments, we also have the flexibility to engage investors and explore tailored arrangements that can support successful implementation while delivering sustainable returns.”

Equity Bank Rwanda Commercial Director, Eric Rutabana, said the Bank’s regional presence and tailored financial solutions can help businesses identify opportunities and expand across markets.

“At Equity, our role is to help businesses and investors identify opportunities, access the right financial solutions and grow their operations. We have a range of products and services tailored to the specific needs of businesses at different stages of their growth. With our presence across the region, we are also able to facilitate businesses looking to expand across borders, making it easier for them to navigate different markets and pursue new opportunities. Ultimately, our role at Equity is to facilitate trade, connect businesses to opportunities and support individuals and enterprises as they grow and contribute to the development of the region,” he said.

Equity Group Associate Director for Trade Relations, Mahvish Malik, said the Group’s Trade missions are designed to give businesses and investors a first-hand understanding of what it takes to do business in the markets they visit, while creating targeted opportunities for commercial partnerships and investment.

“Our trade and investment roadshows are structured to give delegates a clear understanding of what it is really like to conduct business in the region. We arrange highly targeted business-to-business meetings, as well as targeted meetings with government representatives and private-sector associations in the countries we visit. Apart from these engagements, our delegates also get an opportunity to interact with one another. Business conversations emerge from these interactions and may lead to a completed deal or another commercial outcome,” she said.

She added that the engagements in Rwanda provided delegates with an opportunity to better understand the country’s business environment and explore potential partnerships across sectors.

As part of the Rwanda programme, delegates visited businesses across different sectors, including Landy Industries, DIKAM Fashion, Rwanda Farmers Coffee Company (Gorilla’s Coffee) and Ampersand, gaining first-hand insight into Rwanda’s manufacturing, agriculture, coffee and electric mobility ecosystems.

The visits provided delegates with practical perspectives on the opportunities and challenges businesses face on the ground, while highlighting the importance of capital, technology, skills, market access and strategic partnerships in enabling enterprises to scale.

The roadshow forms part of Equity's continued efforts to facilitate trade, regional integration and investment by connecting businesses and investors to new markets, commercial opportunities, capital, technology and strategic partnerships.

Through its trade missions, Equity brings businesses into markets where they can engage directly with potential partners, understand sector opportunities, and explore pathways for expansion across borders.