Rwanda Calls on Investors to Boost Renewable Energy and Circular Economy Initiatives

The Director of Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), Doreen Ntawebasa, has urged both local and international investors to seize the growing opportunities in Rwanda’s renewable energy sector, describing it as one of the country’s most promising frontiers for sustainable development and modern agriculture.

Speaking at a high-level meeting on October 1, 2025, which brought together members of the private sector, renewable energy companies, investors, and government agencies, Ntawebasa highlighted the need for bold investments that will help green innovations reach large-scale impact.

“Rwanda’s goal is to develop the economy using what we have,” she said. “We must transform available resources - from land to by-products - into valuable goods, whether for agriculture, animal feed, or energy production.”

Ntawebasa emphasized that many Rwandan companies are already developing environmentally friendly technologies despite limited funding, and called for stronger partnerships to scale up their operations.

One of the success stories shared at the event came from Kigasali Coffee Company Ltd, whose representative Niyigena Consolée explained how coffee husks from the company’s processing plant are being converted into eco-friendly charcoal briquettes.

“Our charcoal emits fewer greenhouse gases and reduces the need for wood-based charcoal,” Niyigena said. “We currently produce 300 kilograms a day, but with new machinery and more investment, we could produce several tons daily - creating more jobs and protecting the environment.”

The discussion also highlighted Rwanda’s growing circular economy sector, which focuses on recycling waste - especially food waste - into new agricultural and industrial products. The initiative began in 2023 under the ‘Circular Food System for Rwanda’ project, managed by the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA) and supported by the World Bank.

Eric Ruzigamanzi, the World Bank’s project director for the initiative, said the goal is to link innovative enterprises with investors who can help them scale up.

“These companies have the potential to create jobs, strengthen the economy, and promote environmental sustainability,” Ruzigamanzi said. “But to achieve that, they need capital - and that’s why we’re building bridges between them and investors.”

The conference brought together 20 companies operating in renewable energy and circular economy sectors, each presenting innovative projects designed to reduce waste, boost clean energy production, and promote Rwanda’s green industrial transformation.