Rwanda: Supporting SMEs in Job Creation and Job Improvement

June 28, 2023

We’re delighted to announce the official launch of RwandaMart by IPOSITA, an e-commerce platform for SMEs that offers shoppers access to a wide range of top-notch products and services. IPOSITA, the Rwandan National Post Office, hosts RwandaMart and the Rwanda E-Commerce Centre (ECC), which enables the e-commerce eco-system through a range of e-commerce services supporting SMEs and e-commerce operators. These initiatives intend to unlock new opportunities for businesses in Rwanda and beyond.

IPOSITA hosted a kick-off event on June 22nd which was supported by our GOPA Worldwide Consultants’ project team. ‟We are thrilled to launch the RwandaMart platform, which is a significant milestone for Rwanda,″ explained Celestin Kayitare, Director General of IPOSITA. "Our goal is to provide our customers with a convenient and secure shopping experience that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. We believe that the platform will enable us to achieve this goal and grow our business further."

The RwandaMart platform and the ECC were created under the initiative “Rwanda: Enabling the Future of E-Commerce” with the support of GIZ Rwanda in the context of the German Government’s Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” (Invest for Jobs). Key stakeholders, the Rwandan Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) and the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), have provided valuable support and guidance.

The aim of the E-Commerce Project in Rwanda was to develop a future-proof business model for the successful operations of the Kigali-based ECC and RwandaMart. The special initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” aims to assist SMEs on boarded onto the platform by offering support activities that will help them have a high impact on employment in Rwanda.