RPF-Inkotanyi Secretary-General Christophe Bazivamo has called on Rwandans living in Europe, particularly young professionals, to invest their skills, knowledge and resources in Rwanda’s development, stressing that achieving the country’s Vision 2050 ambitions will require greater participation from citizens at home and abroad.
Bazivamo made the remarks on October 30, 2026, during an RPF-Inkotanyi retreat in Warsaw, Poland, attended by members from 19 European countries.
He said Rwanda’s ambition to eliminate poverty by 2050 would depend on faster economic growth, increased investment and a collective commitment to addressing the country’s development challenges.
“Our vision is to have no one living in poverty by 2050. We have moved from 78 per cent to around 27 per cent, and our target for 2050 is zero per cent. We believe this is possible,” Bazivamo said.
He maintained that achieving this ambition would require annual economic growth exceeding 10 per cent, warning that slower progress could delay the country’s long-term development objectives.
Bazivamo argued that maintaining growth of around 7 per cent could push the achievement of those ambitions to approximately 2075, a timeline he said was too distant.
His remarks emphasised the need to accelerate progress rather than assume that existing economic gains would be sufficient to meet the country’s targets.
Official figures from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda show that the economy grew by 9.4 per cent in 2025, while the latest household living conditions survey recorded a national poverty rate of 27.4 per cent in 2024.
Bazivamo encouraged young Rwandans abroad to begin contributing immediately, noting that many would be holding leadership responsibilities by 2050 and would therefore have a direct stake in the country’s progress.
“By 2050, we want Rwandans to be prosperous. By then, some of you will be in leadership positions. If you do not contribute to achieving these goals, you will be the ones facing the challenges that remain,” he said.
He urged participants to use available economic and social development statistics to identify areas where their professional expertise could help improve living standards.
Among the opportunities he highlighted were healthcare, higher education, mineral processing, agriculture and infrastructure development.
Bazivamo said Rwanda was increasingly attracting students and patients from neighbouring countries and elsewhere in Africa, creating demand for specialised professionals and investment in education and medical services.
He referred to discussions during visits to the Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, where he said some officials had expressed interest in receiving medical treatment in Rwanda instead of travelling to Europe.
According to Bazivamo, Rwanda’s ambition to become a regional destination for healthcare and education would require further improvements in service delivery, facilities and professional expertise.
He also identified opportunities in mineral processing, noting that Rwanda seeks to increase the value of minerals before exporting them, alongside investments in processing agricultural products.
The Secretary-General encouraged young professionals to consider business opportunities arising from major projects, including the new international airport under construction in Bugesera and Rwanda’s plans to host Formula 1.
He said such developments would create demand for supporting services and provide opportunities for Rwandans with different professional backgrounds.
“We need you, with your different areas of expertise and knowledge, to come and provide these services and contribute to that vision,” he said.
Bazivamo also highlighted improvements in healthcare access, saying more than 80 per cent of Rwandans had health insurance coverage.
He credited the expansion of community-based health insurance, commonly known as Mutuelle de Santé, with helping people obtain medical treatment and remain economically productive.
“When someone is healthy, they can work, and when they work, they contribute to production,” he said.
He cited GDP per capita of approximately $1,156 as another indicator of the country’s economic progress, while acknowledging that further efforts were needed to improve living conditions.
Beyond investment, Bazivamo encouraged Rwandans living abroad to remain informed about developments in their home country and use that knowledge to explain Rwanda’s achievements and opportunities to international audiences.
He said Rwandans increasingly encounter foreigners interested in visiting, studying or investing in Rwanda, making it important for citizens abroad to understand developments taking place in the country.
Bazivamo also emphasised the importance of understanding Rwanda’s history, including the effects of colonial rule, the persecution of Tutsi beginning in 1959 and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He argued that knowledge of the country’s past was essential for younger generations to appreciate the progress made and the responsibilities that remain.
The Secretary-General said RPF-Inkotanyi’s development agenda was intended to benefit all Rwandans, not only party members, and encouraged participants to uphold unity, shared values and a commitment to finding solutions to national challenges.
The retreat brought together young RPF-Inkotanyi members and Rwandan diplomats serving in European countries.
Participants also discussed investment opportunities in Rwanda, including those presented through partnerships involving I&M Bank Rwanda.
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