By Anne MUHIZA
Harambee Rwanda, a Youth Employment Accelerator, has released a Rwanda Global Business Services Case Study and Special Country Report highlighting the country's value proposition within the Global Business Services (GBS) sector. The report highlights Rwanda's
strengths, including ease of doing business, a strong and growing talent pool of young people, strong and reliable IT infrastructure, and a high level of service delivery.
The report highlights some of the key business drivers
that make Rwanda an ideal destination for GBS employers including its bilingualism in English and French, the government's prioritization of the GBS sector as an investment opportunity, the collaboration potential of key sector players, attractive investment
incentives and its capacity to flourish as a boutique near-shore services location.
Other key determinants of location selection for
GBS investors in Rwanda’s favour include; infrastructure–including ICT and transport, a cost-competitive and skilled workforce, business-friendly government policies and most importantly, the experiences of other GBS investors that have joined and are thriving
in the Rwandan market.
Rwanda's profile as a Global Business Services destination
has grown. The country is now ranked 10th globally in the technical help desk category of the 2022 GBS World Competitiveness Index-Digital and ITO. With an average age of 20, and 70% of the population under 30, Rwanda provides a capable and largely untapped
talent pool for GBS investors/employers. These employers bring much-needed decent job opportunities that can significantly dent the youth unemployment challenge.
The research study was commissioned by Harambee Youth
Employment Accelerator, an organization that aims to solve the youth unemployment challenge through partnerships. The report analyzes the gaps, needs and what is required for an investor/employer to come to Rwanda. It is designed to provide key information
to investors/employers on the country and its value proposition.
Hannah Adams, Harambee’s Rwanda Country manager said:
“Rwanda has emerged as an up-and-coming location
for Global Business Services and this report highlights the numerous reasons why. The growth of the GBS sector in Rwanda promises thousands of new jobs for young people over the next five years and we’re committed to working alongside our partners in the sector
to ensure its success.”
Martin Roe, CCI Global’s Group Chief Executive, a
company with a global footprint of 60,000 agents, said:
"Africa is the new frontier in Global Business Services,
and Rwanda is emerging as a regional leader due to their talented and willing-to-learn workforce".
Philip Lucky, RDB’s Acting Chief Investment Officer
had this to say, “This report offers a welcome insight into Rwanda's Global Business Services sector. Over the years, the country has invested heavily in creating an enabling business environment. This includes putting in place the required infrastructure
and efficient, supported processes. We welcome the world to take advantage of Rwanda's GBS opportunity."
Tek Expert, a global technology firm that has run
its operations in the country for over 6 months reported that their local team’s exceptional performance resulted in clients doubling the allocation of business to the Rwanda team in such a short span of time.
This report showcases meaningful insights for investors
and employers in the GBS market, and is a testament to Rwanda's potential to succeed as a digital and knowledge-based economy. The report suggests that the Global Business Services sector could generate 5000+ jobs in the next five years, significantly impacting the country’s GDP.