OREANDA-NEWS. October 7, 2011. Renaissance Capital, the leading emerging markets investment bank, has opened its inaugural East Africa Investor Conference, in Kigali, Rwanda. The event brings together more than 100 local, regional and international investors for two days of presentations, discussion and networking, focused on investment opportunities in Rwanda and across the wider East African region

Dr. Richard Sezibera, Secretary General of the East Africa Community, who opened the conference, is joined at the event by Claver Gatete, Governor of the National bank of Rwanda, and John Rwangombwa, Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning.

In his opening address, Secretary General Sezibera said that within five years the East Africa region can move from the current average of 5% GDP growth to 11%, and shift from current, average per-capita income of USD 300 to at least USD 700-USD 1,000. "As a region, we need to be more confident and more aggressive in realising our potential,” he added. “All stakeholders should be at the forefront of promoting confidence among local and foreign investors to do business in our region. Decisive interventions, such as reducing the numerous roadblocks along the major East Africa boarders, ports and highways; harmonisation of axle load controls on our roads to facilitate trade in the landlocked countries that are member states; and other measures or elimination of non-tariff barriers, should be encouraged across the region."

Renaissance Capital is represented at the conference by Clifford Sacks, CEO Africa, Patrick Mweheire, CEO East Africa, Yvonne Ike, CEO West Africa and Charles Robertson, Global Chief Economist.

"Renaissance Capital is very active in Rwanda and East Africa,” Mweheire told delegates at the conference. “We are very excited about this market going forward, and want to share our enthusiasm and showcase Rwanda and the East Africa region to our clients and global partners as an excellent place to do business. This conference will not only showcase East Africa's investment potential but also raise awareness among foreign investors on investment in East Africa, and Rwanda in particular," he added. In 2011, Renaissance Capital advised on several landmark transactions in Rwanda, including the first two IPOs on the Rwanda Stock Exchange.