International Finance Corporation (IFC) Vice President for Africa Ethiopia Tafala begins a two-day official visit to Rwanda, demonstrating the global financier’s continued commitment to strengthening Rwanda’s rapidly expanding private sector.
The visit, which will take place in Kigali from March 12 to 13, will be Mr. Tafara’s first official visit to Rwanda since taking up a leadership role in the private investment arm of the World Bank Group. His efforts are expected to focus on strengthening investment partnerships and accelerating economic growth through stronger collaboration between governments, investors and local businesses.
During his visit, Tafala will hold high-level meetings with Rwandan government officials, including Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumba and Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Yusuf Murangwa. He will also meet with leaders of the Rwanda Development Board, including CEO Jangai Africa, to discuss strategies aimed at strengthening Rwanda’s investment climate.
The talks are expected to focus on increasing private sector participation in the country’s economic development, improving access to finance, and opening up new capital flows to high-impact sectors that can create jobs and accelerate economic expansion.
IFC’s delegation will also work with business leaders and entrepreneurs to understand the challenges that continue to slow investment activity and identify opportunities to build a stronger pipeline of bankable projects that can attract domestic and international investors.
Rwanda is increasingly putting the private sector at the center of its economic transformation strategy, with policymakers prioritizing innovation, entrepreneurship and improved access to finance as key drivers of sustainable growth.
For small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country, stronger investor confidence can lead to increased access to capital, improved infrastructure, and greater opportunities to scale up operations and enter new markets.
IFC is an active partner in Rwanda’s development agenda. Over the past five years, the agency has provided more than $330 million in long-term funding to projects across the country. Approximately 60% of the funding was provided directly by IFC, with the remainder mobilized through partnerships with other international investors.
These investments have supported a wide range of initiatives, including expanding infrastructure, strengthening financial inclusion, and reforms aimed at improving the performance of state-owned enterprises.
IFC operates in more than 100 countries around the world, providing investment capital, advisory services, and strategic partnerships to accelerate private sector growth in emerging markets.
In fiscal year 2025 alone, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to businesses and financial institutions in developing countries, reinforcing its mission to mobilize private capital and strengthen sustainable markets around the world.
For Rwanda, Tafara’s visit signals continued international confidence in the country’s economic trajectory. If these discussions lead to new partnerships and investment commitments, the results could help empower businesses, create jobs and strengthen economic resilience across East Africa.
