conducive atmosphere, peace and security, infrastructure to favourable legal
framework that responds to the needs of the masses.
158. A community development strategy has been developed. Whereas much is
done in terms of infrastructure (construction of classrooms, roads, water and
electricity connections, agriculture and livestock development, the most
remarkable achievement today is eradication of grass-thatched houses. This
is in line with Government’s goal of moving people to planned settlements
(Imidugudu) so that basic infrastructure is easily extended to those
settlements and planned land use is facilitated.
159. The Government has established a Business Development Fund (BDF) in
order to increase the numbers of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
BDF’s core focus is to assist the potentially viable SMEs with access to finance
and to empower and make their businesses succeed. BDF’s five year
transformation Plan (2015-2019) will result in a re-invigorated organization
that is more responsive to SME needs and better positioned to address their
challenges. To-date, BDF has invested and taken an equity stake in 21 SMEs
worth Rwf 1.4 Billion. Over 800 SMEs have been supported with advisory
services on finance and business development.
160. In private Sector and cooperatives development, the Government of
Rwanda has encouraged people carrying similar businesses or activities to
form cooperatives so as to double their efforts for increased production.
Working in cooperatives makes it easier for Government to provide them
with both technical and financial support as well as market for their
production. From July 2010 to March 2016, 4,600 cooperatives were registered
in the Country by Rwanda Cooperative Agency-RCA. There are so far a total
of 479 registered Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCOS) in Rwanda.
Sacco’s managers have been trained in Business Plan formulation and other
2,597 SACCOS’ leaders and employees from 23 Districts trained in SACCO
Governance, Administration and Management. In February 2015
approximately 100 SACCO accountants were trained in reporting skills.
161.
In ensuring an efficient stable and accessible financial market
development, Access to finance remained the country’s key priority. Overall,
banks’ network operated 136 branches and 254 sub-branches or counters.
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