Women Entrepreneurs from Mauritius and Rwanda Commit to Joint Business Ventures

May 19, 2026 Abawe02 0 Comments

Women entrepreneurs from Mauritius and Rwanda have pledged to strengthen cooperation through joint business ventures, with Mauritian businesswomen set to invest in companies owned by Rwandan women entrepreneurs.

The commitment was highlighted on Monday, May 18, 2026, during a meeting between a delegation of Mauritian women entrepreneurs visiting Rwanda and their Rwandan counterparts.

The discussions focused on identifying opportunities for mutual business growth and knowledge exchange The three-day visit follows a recent trip by Rwandan women entrepreneurs to Mauritius.

The Mauritian delegation is exploring investment opportunities in Rwanda, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), under an initiative dubbed the “SheTrades Hub-to-Hub Collaboration Mission.”
SheTrades Hubs are part of the global SheTrades initiative established by the International Trade Centre (ITC), in partnership with the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Speaking during the meeting, Rwandan entrepreneur Olive Ingabire said she was inspired by the success stories shared by Mauritian women entrepreneurs, many of whom started with small businesses and now export products to countries including the United Kingdom and Australia.
“I realized that women can achieve great things when they are determined. Our sisters from Mauritius started small businesses in 2012, and today they export to the UK, Australia and other countries.

We too can take our products to international markets, including Mauritius.Their stories showed us that African women can compete globally when given opportunities and when they believe in themselves,” Ingabire said.

She added that Rwandan women entrepreneurs also gained valuable insights into digital marketing and online business promotion from the Mauritian delegation.

Thérèse Sekamana, Head of Special Programs Development, including women empowerment, at the Private Sector Federation (PSF), said the Mauritian entrepreneurs are not seeking to establish independent companies in Rwanda, but rather to partner with existing businesses owned by Rwandan women.

“The main purpose of their visit is for each of their companies to collaborate with a Rwandan company. They are not here to open and operate their own businesses independently in Rwanda. Instead, they want to work together with Rwandan women entrepreneurs who already own businesses, and we are facilitating those partnerships,” she said.
Sekamana further revealed that the two sides are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at formalizing and sustaining long-term cooperation.

She also encouraged Rwandan women to be more ambitious and venture into large-scale investment projects, noting that women are already succeeding in sectors such as energy, construction and mining.

SheTrades Rwanda Hub was launched in 2021 through a partnership between the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), the International Trade Centre and the Private Sector Federation. The initiative supports women entrepreneurs in preparing for export markets and connecting them with investment opportunities.

Meanwhile, the SheTrades Mauritius Hub, launched in 2023, helps women entrepreneurs access international markets, acquire digital trade skills and secure financing and business support.