For the growth of the country’s economy to sustain and keep increasing, it will require efficiency and growth of financial institutions and deepening of an effective capital market - Claver Gatete, the minister of Finance and Economic Planning has said.

Minister Gatete was speaking at the launch of Rwanda Stock Exchange second securities platform that will be used by the Small and Medium Enterprise and other corporate companies to access capital markets. 

“With the launch of this market segment, citizens will be able to access opportunities to participate in the success of profitable businesses when they buy shares in those companies and entrepreneurs out there will find an alternative source of financing of their activities,” Minister Gatete said. 

The launch of the second securities platform coincided with the first ever Rwanda Stock Exchange listing forum, a business round table event meant to facilitate the SME sector and other corporates to have a practical feel and hands on experience of the capital market process to raise money for their growth and expansion.

Held under the theme “accelerating access to long term capital for small and medium enterprises and other corporates to grow their business”, The RSE Listings Forum 2018 is the climax to a 2-month awareness and public education campaign that took proactive measures in taking Rwanda’s capital markets to doorsteps of the SME sector.

The objective of the RSE Listings Forum 2018   is to engage in genuine dialogue with other stakeholders on how the SME sector can be facilitated to access   long term funding available through the capital markets.

According to Pierre Celestin Rwabukumba, the CEO of RSE said that the RSE Listing Forum will enable SMEs to obtain more technical information on the necessary steps and processes needed for them to access funding through the capital markets.

“The   campaign   elicited positive responses from the SME sector and other corporates. RSE’s business to business engagement as part of the campaign with some of the potential SMEs eager to access capital   indicated   huge potential for helping SMEs access long term capital through the stock market” Mr. Rwabukumba said.

The RSE listing Forum was organized by the Rwanda Stock Exchange in partnership with Private Sector Federation (PSF) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The event attracted over 50 SMEs including start up founders and CEOs.