Rwanda is aiming to attract $1 billion in digital foreign direct investment by 2035, a push officials say will the Digital Cooperation Organization.
The report outlines steps to draw more global technology firms, including streamlined investor procedures, regulatory improvements and expanded digital infrastructure.
Officials say Rwanda has accelerate the country’s shift toward a technology driven economy and strengthen its standing as a regional innovation hub.
The plan was announced with the release of the Digital FDI Rwanda Report, developed in partnership with the World Economic Forum and already secured about $819 million in digital-sector investment over the past decade, including projects in software development, communications and electronics manufacturing.
The new target seeks to build on that record by making the regulatory environment more transparent and easing the entry process for technology companies.
“We want to ensure Rwanda remains a competitive and attractive destination for digital investors,” said Paula Ingabire, minister of ICT and Innovation.
She said the roadmap is designed to strengthen trust in the country’s data ecosystem, improve investor facilitation and expand digital skills.
Analysts say Rwanda has laid strong legal and policy foundations for digital investment, including open foreign-ownership rules in the ICT sector.
But they caution that the country must overcome structural challenges to meet its goal. “Rwanda’s policy direction is clear and ambitious, but its success will depend on improving broadband coverage, deepening advanced digital skills and building the data infrastructure needed for high-value digital industries,” one regional digital-economy analyst said.
Backers of the investment drive say it could boost exports, create jobs and support the growth of the country’s startup ecosystem.
Digital transformation is a core pillar of Rwanda’s long-term development blueprint, Vision 2050. Despite the challenges, observers say effective implementation of the reforms could help position Rwanda as a leading digital hub in East Africa.
