Rwanda has attracted more than $3.2 billion in investment commitments in 2024, generating over 50,000 jobsand reinforcing its reputation as one of Africa’s most dynamic investment destinations, according to the 2025 Statistical Yearbook published by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) and data from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
The performance reflects sustained capital inflows over the past eight years, despite fluctuations in global and regional economic conditions. Between 2017 and 2024, Rwanda’s total investment commitments rose from approximately $1.67 billion to $3.27 billion, peaking in 2021 at $3.75 billion amid a strong post-pandemic recovery.
Rwanda’s investment landscape has diversified in recent years, attracting capital across sectors including manufacturing, financial services, real estate, renewable energy, agribusiness, and mining, positioning the country as a competitive hub for both domestic and foreign investors.
Major contributors in 2024 included multinationals such as Rio Tinto Exploration Rwanda and local firms like Bio Usawa Biotechnology, reflecting a blend of foreign direct investment and strong local participation.
Asia remained a leading source of investment, while African investors, led by Nigeria, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, made significant contributions, underscoring Rwanda’s growing integration in continental economic networks.
Rwanda has also benefited from broader economic growth, with its gross domestic product expanding nearly 8.9 per cent in 2024, one of the fastest rates on the continent, driven by services, industry, and agriculture.
Investment opportunities in Rwanda
Rwanda offers a wide range of investment opportunities for regional and global investors seeking high returns. The country’s renewable energy sector provides promising prospects, including solar, hydropower, and mini-grid projects to expand rural electrification, with opportunities to collaborate with government programs. In agribusiness and agro-processing, investors can tap into export-oriented crops, value addition, cold storage, and food processing ventures, capitalising on Rwanda’s rich agricultural base.
The tourism and hospitality sector continues to grow, driven by ecotourism and conference tourism, thereby creating opportunities for investment in hotels, lodges, and event management services. Kigali Innovation City and other tech hubs provide incentives for ICT and tech startups, particularly in software development, fintech, and digital solutions targeting East Africa.
Rapid urbanisation has generated strong demand for real estate and construction, with potential for affordable housing, commercial property, and office space development. Additionally, Rwanda’s Special Economic Zones support manufacturing and export-oriented industries with tax incentives and infrastructure assistance for light manufacturing and assembly plants.
Investors seeking to enter these sectors can obtain guidance on permits, incentives, and partnerships from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Job creation
While investment figures have soared, employment gains have also been substantial. In 2024, investment projects supported the creation of 51,635 jobs, building on previous gains, from 37,548 jobs in 2017 to a peak of 57,627 in 2022.
The data reveal that although higher investment inflows generally support job growth, increases in investment do not always translate into proportionate increases in employment, a pattern influenced by shifts in sectoral capital intensity and project types.
Investment-led job opportunities have been significant in the manufacturing and industrial sectors, aligning with Rwanda’s strategic focus on industrialisation under its national development blueprint and special economic zones that attract export-oriented production.
For investors from Gulf states, North America, Asia, and across Africa, Rwanda’s performance underscores a broader trend of sustainable economic engagement in Africa’s emerging markets. The country’s regulatory reforms, investor-friendly policies, and infrastructure improvements, such as transport linkages and power expansion, offer a stable environment for foreign capital.
Rwanda’s position is further enhanced by its strategic location within the East African Community and participation in continental initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to expand regional markets and unlock cross-border investment opportunities.
