Rwanda Development Board

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) was established in 2009 to coordinate, spur and promote national economic development. RDB includes agencies responsible for "business registration, investment promotion, environmental clearances, privatization and specialist agencies which support the priority sectors of ICT and tourism as well as SMEs and human capacity development in the private sector". The executive director is a cabinet-level position and the incumbent is appointed by and reports directly to the president of Rwanda.{{cite web|date=31 August 2017 |accessdate=5 September 2017| url=http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/read/219033/ | title=Rwanda gets new Cabinet, who is in? |first=Felly |last=Kimenyi |newspaper=New Times (Rwanda) | location=Kigali}} RDB measures its achievements in (a) direct foreign and domestic investments, (b) increased exports and (c) number of jobs created.{{cite web |accessdate=5 September 2017 |url=https://macigindaba.com/2013/09/03/vivian-kayitesi-head-of-the-investment-promotion-and-implementation-department-rwanda-development-board/ |title=Rwanda is developing a world-class business climate to attract investors: Vivian Kayitesi, Head of the Investment Promotion and Implementation Department, Rwanda Development Board |date=3 September 2013 |publisher=Macigindaba.com |author=Administrator |location=Singapore |archive-date=5 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905184410/https://macigindaba.com/2013/09/03/vivian-kayitesi-head-of-the-investment-promotion-and-implementation-department-rwanda-development-board/ |url-status=dead }}

In May 2018, Arsenal announced Visit Rwanda as the club's first official shirt sleeve sponsor and the club's official tourism partner in a three-year £10 million per year deal. The deal was extended to another four years in 2021.{{Cite web |last=Meyers |first=Billy |date=2023-01-14 |title=Why Arsenal have Visit Rwanda on their shirts |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/01/14/why-do-arsenal-have-visit-rwanda-on-their-shirts/ |access-date= |website=HITC |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Ed |date=2021-08-17 |title=Report: Arsenal and Visit Rwanda seal "UK£40m" sleeve sponsorship extension |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/arsenal-visit-rwanda-sleeve-sponsorship-extension-brentford-umbro-kit-deal/ |access-date= |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}}

In December 2019, Paris Saint-Germain signed a three-year €8-10 million per year deal with Visit Rwanda as the club's official tourism partner. The Visit Rwanda logo will also appear on the back of the men's training kit and on the shirt sleeve of the women's team's kit.{{Cite news |date=2019-12-04 |title=Rwanda signs deal with Paris St Germain to promote tourism |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/rwanda-tourism-soccer-idUSL8N28E2P3 |access-date=}}{{Cite web |date=2019-12-04 |title=Paris Saint-Germain Signs Visit Rwanda Training + Women's Main Shirt Deal |url=https://www.footyheadlines.com/2019/12/paris-saint-germain-signs-visit-rwanda-deal.html |access-date= |website=Footy Headlines}}{{Cite web |last=Bates |first=Pearce |date=2019-12-05 |title=PSG confirm Visit Rwanda training kit deal |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/psg-visit-rwanda-training-kit/ |access-date= |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}} In May 2023, the deal was extended to 2025.{{Cite web |last=Mahadik |first=Gauresh |date=2023-05-11 |title=PSG land sponsorship extension with Visit Rwanda |url=https://sportsmintmedia.com/psg-land-sponsorship-extension-with-visit-rwanda/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=SportsMint Media |language=en-US}}

In May 2021, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) signed a sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda as a founding and host partner of the BAL. Visit Rwanda will be showcased on BAL team uniforms.{{Cite web |date=May 13, 2021 |title=VISIT RWANDA AND RWANDAIR JOIN BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE AS OFFICIAL PARTNERS |url=https://www.rwandair.com/media-center/news-press-releases/visit-rwanda-and-rwandair-join-basketball-africa-league-as-official-partners/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=www.rwandair.com}} The deal was extended to another five years in 2023.{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-07-10 |title=Basketball Africa League And Rwanda Announce Five Year Extension |url=https://www.africa.com/basketball-africa-league-and-rwanda-announce-five-year-extension/ |access-date=2023-07-26 |website=www.africa.com |language=en-US}}

In August 2023, Bayern Munich signed a five year partnership deal with Visit Rwanda as a football development and tourism promotion partner.{{Cite web |date=27 August 2023 |title=FC Bayern and Visit Rwanda agree partnership until 2028 |url=https://fcbayern.com/en/news/2023/08/fc-bayern-and-visit-rwanda-agree-partnership-until-2028 |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=fcbayern.com}}

The Visit Rwanda initiative has had a very positive effect on Rwanda’s economy. By partnering with big sports teams like Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, the country has become more popular around the world. This has helped attract more tourists, leading to more money being made from tourism about $498 million in 2019, contributing 13% to Rwanda’s economy. It also created many new jobs and encouraged foreign businesses to invest in the country. These deals promote eco-tourism, business travel and job creation, helping Rwanda grow even more.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2021 |title=Contribution of Tourism in the Economy of Rwanda |url=https://www.bookly.africa/news/contribution-of-tourism-in-the-economy-of-rwanda |access-date=20 October 2024 |website=www.bookly.africa}}{{Cite web |date=28 August 2022|title=How Rwanda is building a sustainable economy through tourism |url=https://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/how-rwanda-is-building-a-sustainable-economy-through-tourism/ |access-date=20 October 2024 |website=www.breakingtravelnews.com}}

The sponsorship deals have been met with criticism due to allegations of human rights abuse, with claims that Rwandan president Paul Kagame is using sportswashing to enhance the country's reputation{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Alan |date=2021-09-21 |title=Arsenal face moral and social questions over Visit Rwanda sponsorship deal |url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/arsenal-sponsorship-visit-rwanda-allegations-21622652 |access-date= |website=Football.London |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Millar |first=Colin |date=2022-02-21 |title=Arsenal's Visit Rwanda sponsorship and the dark side to a sportswashing agenda |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-psg-visit-rwanda-sponsorship-26135818 |access-date= |website=The Mirror |language=en}} and potentially "persuade the international community to overlook alleged human right violations in the country."{{Cite journal |last=Voets |first=Thomas Yaw |date=2023-03-01 |title=“Visit Rwanda”: a well primed public relations campaign or a genuine attempt at improving the country’s image abroad? |url=https://doi.org/10.1057/s41254-021-00206-6 |journal=Place Branding and Public Diplomacy |language=en |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=143–154 |doi=10.1057/s41254-021-00206-6 |issn=1751-8059}} Another criticism concerned the fact that Rwanda, one of the poorest nations in the world, was paying millions of dollars to some of the world's richest football clubs (for example, Arsenal received $39 million for the initial 3-year deal) instead of using the money to alleviate poverty in the country.{{Cite web |last=Reyntjens |first=Filip |date=2018-05-28 |title=When the poor sponsor the rich: Rwanda and Arsenal FC |url=http://theconversation.com/when-the-poor-sponsor-the-rich-rwanda-and-arsenal-fc-97330 |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}} In 2021, when Arsenal's initial three-year partnership was about to expire, prominent figures including journalist Michela Wrong and sports writer Barney Ronay were critical of the club's decision to renew the deal given Rwanda's human rights situation.{{Cite news |last=Ronay |first=Barney |date=2021-03-05 |title=Does Arsenal's Visit Rwanda shirtsleeve deal remain a 'compelling fit'? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/mar/05/arsenal-visit-rwanda-shirtsleeve-deal-david-luiz |access-date=2025-06-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Alan |date=2021-09-21 |title=Arsenal face moral and social questions over Visit Rwanda sponsorship deal |url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/arsenal-sponsorship-visit-rwanda-allegations-21622652 |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Football London |language=en}} In 2025, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo called on Arsenal, PSG, and Bayern Munich to drop their sponsorship deals with Visit Rwanda, citing Rwanda's alleged involvement with the M23 paramilitary group operating in the Congo and accused of numerous human rights violations.{{Cite web |title=Arsenal, Bayern Munich and PSG told to 'reconcile conscience' over Rwanda sponsorship deal |url=https://news.sky.com/story/arsenal-bayern-munich-and-psg-told-to-reconcile-conscience-over-rwanda-sponsorship-deal-13307361 |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=Sky News |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2025-02-02 |title=DR Congo asks clubs to end Visit Rwanda sponsorship |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/dr-congo-asks-clubs-end-visit-rwanda-sponsorship-2025-02-02/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |work=Reuters |language=en}}

• Parliament of Rwanda

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• [https://rdb.rw/ Website of Rwanda Development Board]

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Category:2009 establishments in Rwanda

Category:Government of Rwanda

Category:Finance in Rwanda

Category:Government agencies established in 2009

Category:Investment promotion agencies

Category:Organisations based in Kigali