RDB awards top entrepreneurs in 2011

 

BPR top investor, Bralirwa top exporter, Softgroup top SME

Kigali.  For the 4^th time, RDB announced the winners and finalists of its 2011 RDB Business Excellence Awards. The annual awards honor the achievement of businesses, individuals and SME’s that have made an outstanding contribution to Rwanda’s economic growth. The event was held on January 27^th, 2012 at Kigali, Serena Hotel. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Rwandan Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi said; “These awards are more than a recognition for good performance in various spheres over the past two or more years, they are also supposed to encourage investors to go further by reinvesting in the growth of their businesses, generating employment, developing the skills of their employees, and improving the quality of services offered.” He further urged the private sector to explore the available opportunities.

According to the RDB Investment and Implementation department Head Vivian Kayitesi; “Organizing these awards is pertinent in supporting the private sector. Our prosperity as a nation depends on how individual businesses and indeed entire sectors are able to outperform their competitors both on the local market and on the international scene.”

“Noticeably, the RDB 2011 business excellence awards attracted a significant number of participants, awards and sponsors,” Kayitesi added.

 The event recognized corporate enterprises with a new focus on Top Small and Medium enterprises and Young Entrepreneurs.

Nearly 142 organizations have applied. This includes 130 companies, 110 investors, 20 exporters and 12 districts. The award finalists and winners were selected following different criteria below:

·       Profitability

◦      At least 2 years of operation

◦      One year of profitable operation

·       Creation of forward and backward linkages with local SMEs

◦      N^o. of local suppliers

◦      N^o. of local buyers or distributors

·       Demonstrate innovation and technology transfer

 

 

◦      No. of new products or services introduced to the market

◦      No. of new firms established with similar operations

◦      No. of employees trained per year

·       Corporate social responsibility

◦      % of revenues allocated to CSR

◦      No. of CSR programs

·       Act as a role model to other players in the industry

◦      No. of peers citing firm as a leader.

·       Reinvestment into the business to sustain growth

◦      CAPEX as % of revenues

◦      Training budget as % of revenues

·       Creation of employment opportunities

◦      No. of jobs created

·       New elements

◦      Compliance with the new Companies’ Act from 2009

◦      Assessing performance against  current business plans

130 companies were shortlisted. These include Ten(10) overall best investors;  Ten(10) overall best Exporters; Three (3) best companies for best customer care; Three (3) best Women entrepreneurs; Eleven(11) best performing SMEs in each sector; Three(3) best young entrepreneur.

The awards focused not only on big corporate companies but also included SMEs in all categories in order to encourage them to grow as they form the largest number of businesses in the country.

The winners are as follows:

1. Investor of the year

              Winner: Banque Populaire du Rwanda

              1st runner up: Nakumatt

2.     Exporter of the year

               Winner: Bralirwa

 

 

1st runner up: Entreprise Urwibutso

1.     Best SME 2011: Soft Group

Ist runner up for best SME 2011: COPROVIBA

 Sector categories              

2.     TOURISM

Winner of the year: Tourism Promotion Services Ltd-Serena

Best SME in the Tourism sector: Rwanda Tourism University College (RTUC)

3.      ICT:

Winner of the year: Tigo

Best SME in the ICT sector:Hoziyana

 

4.      GENERAL MANUFACTURING:

 Winner of the year: Bralirwa

Best SME in General Manufacturing: Softgroup

 

5.      AGRO PROCESSING

Winner of the year: Entreprise Urwibutso

Best SME in Agro processing: Coproviba

 

6.      MINING

               Winner of the year: Wolfram

Best SME in the mining sector: Alicomec

 

7.      FINANCE

                Winner of the year: Bank of Kigali

 Best SME in the financial sector: COMICOKA

 

8.      REAL ESTATE

Winner of the year: Real Contractors

Best SME in Real Estate: Ujenge

Special categories:

·       Best Customer Service: Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration

·        Woman entrepreneur of the year 2011: Mukarubega Zulfat

·       Young Entrepreneur of the year 2011: Jean de Dieu Kagabo, Soft group

·       Most Business Friendly District: Ruhango District, Southern Province

 

ENDS