Skip to main content

Driving
Rwanda’s
Sustainable
Industrialization

Welcome to Bugesera
Special Economic Zone

Invest in
Rwanda

Key Facts

#1 fastest GDP Growth in Africa 2023

(Source : afdb.org)

Population: 13,246,394

65.3% Population are under 30-years of age

Area: 26,338 sq.km

GDP growth: 10.9 %

Why Invest in Rwanda?

2nd in Africa for Ease of Doing Business

Source: (2020 World Bank Doing Business Report) Rankings (doingbusiness.org)

2nd in Africa & 1st in the region for government transparency

Source: (2019 Transparency International)

3rd ranked in Africa on Logistics Performance Index (LPI)

Source: Home | Logistics Performance Index (LPI) (worldbank.org)

Attractive
incentives
and policies

Rwanda has created an enabling Investment Environment by offering the following:

Multiple incentives for exporters and priority sectors

  • Preferential CIT rate (Corporate Income Tax)
  • Accelerated first year depreciation rate of 50%
  • Duty-free imports of machinery and inputs within EAC

Efficient, supported processes

  • Free business registration
  • Highly digitalized and efficient administration (six hours to register a business)
  • One-stop center for investors with dedicated investment acceleration and aftercare team

Commitment to foreign ownership

  • No restrictions on foreign ownership
  • No restrictions on capital flows
  • Capital gains exemption on sale or transfer of shares

Connectivity
& market access

Rwanda is uniquely positioned to have access to a regional market of 146 million consumers in the EAC and 460 million in COMESA. Rwanda also enjoys easy access to the eastern DRC market of approximately 35 million people.

DRC

  • 81M people
  • 20M close proximity
  • $9.3bn est. GDP

Uganda

  • 43M people
  • 22M close proximity

  • $1.2bn est. GDP

Burundi

  • 11M people
  • 11M close proximity
  • $3.1bn est. GDP

Tanzania

  • 57M people
  • 16M close proximity
  • $14.5bn est. GDP

Regional and global treaties:

Rwanda has access to African and global markets through robust free trade agreements such as:

Investment
Opportunities

About
BSEZ

The most competitive zone to establish and grow your business in Rwanda

Bugesera Special Economic Zone (BSEZ), located in the Bugesera district of Rwanda – is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement between Arise IIP and the Government of Rwanda with a committed investment of USD 100 million. (60% ARISE IIP; 40% Rwanda Government).

Our zone is committed to the development of a more competitive economy by unlocking the country’s industrial potential. We seek to transform Rwanda into a regional manufacturing powerhouse within the continent, while leveraging its carbon endowment in the pursuit of green growth.

About
ARISE IIP

ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (Arise IIP) is a pan-African developer and operator of world-class industrial ecosystems across the African continent. Arise IIP identifies opportunities in commercial and industrial value chains, finances, builds, and operates the necessary infrastructure, playing a catalytic role in countries’ transition to an industrial economy. We design tailor-made solutions to enable the sustainable and local transformation of raw materials, boost exports, and promote trade.

We are committed to partnering with African governments on their development agenda, focusing on job creation. Our trusted partnerships with governments and investors enable us to execute large-scale projects that transform local value chains and industrialize countries in an environmentally sustainable way.

Key Objectives

Raw material
transformation

Export
enhancement

Import
substitution

Increase
FDIs inflow

Job
creation

Project
overview

BSEZ project occupies a total area of 335.67 hectares and is situated in the district of Bugesera.

BSEZ strategic location is connected to the existing robust domestic and regional linkages.

The highway connectivity to nearby countries adds to the zone’s attractiveness for investors setting up units inside the zone.

It is at about 56 km distance from the capital city Kigali and is well connected to the international airports and nearby ports.

Project development

Facilities &
Services

Advantages
of BSEZ

CORPORATE TAX

100%

Exemption on corporate tax for first seven years
(also, losses can be carried forward for seven years) afterwards nominal 10%

LAND
TAX

100%

Exemption on property tax
for the first five years

CUSTOM
DUTIES

100%

Exemption from all customs duties and taxes
while importing machinery equipment, raw materials, office supplies, vehicles…

ZERO RATED VAT

0%

Zero Rated Value-Added Tax
on construction material & construction based equipment

Sustainability

Our sustainability approach consists of four pillars, which are as follows:

Carbon Neutrality
Our goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by gradually eliminating intensive carbon energy sources through targeted initiatives.

Diversity and Inclusion
We aim to increase diversity across all levels of our organization through dedicated programs.

Responsible Supply Chain Management
We identify supply chain risks and take proactive measures to implement responsibility. procurement practices and boost stakeholder engagement.

Circular Economy
We strive to reduce wastage of resources by carefully integrating circular economic principles into our business strategy and operations.

Read ESIA Report 2024

BSEZ
Sustainability

Our sustainability approach consists of four pillars, which are as follows:

Carbon Neutrality
Our goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by gradually eliminating intensive carbon energy sources through targeted initiatives.

Diversity and Inclusion
We aim to increase diversity across all levels of our organization through dedicated programs.

Responsible Supply Chain Management
We identify supply chain risks and take proactive measures to implement responsibility. procurement practices and boost stakeholder engagement.

Circular Economy
We strive to reduce wastage of resources by carefully integrating circular economic principles into our business strategy and operations.

Read ESIA Report 2024