Strong leadership is the backbone of business- Jean- Guy Africa

The Director General of the Rwanda Development Board, RDB, Jean-Guy Afrika, said that national institutions and governance capacity are key pillars in building a strong trade sector.

He reiterated this during a discussion on Africa’s position in international trade with the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, and other participants at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

He said that countries that achieve success in trade are those with institutions that have the capacity to understand the regional and global trade landscape, identify specific opportunities and implement policies and strategies that enhance infrastructure, the private sector and human resources.

Rwanda has outperformed other African countries in terms of its open visa policy in the World Bank’s 2025 Ease of Doing Business Index, with an overall score of 67.94.

In its 2025 report, the World Bank assessed the economies of 29 African countries.

Rwanda, Morocco and Mauritius, along with seven other African countries, topped the World Bank’s 2025 Ease of Doing Business Index, reflecting significant progress in reforming business regulations, improving governance and governance.