IFC, Rwanda Capital Markets Authority and Central Bank Join Forces to Boost Access to Long-Term Finance for Small Businesses

To support the development of Rwanda's capital markets, IFC, the National Bank of Rwanda and Rwanda's Capital Markets Authority (CMA) this week announced a four-year partnership that will help expand access to long-term local currency finance in Rwanda for key sectors such as housing, agribusiness, and smaller businesses.

Liquid, diverse and well-regulated local capital markets are an essential source of local-currency financing for the government, financial sector participants, and end users such as small businesses. Under the Rwanda Capital Market Development project, IFC will advise the National Bank of Rwanda, CMA, and other key stakeholders on increasing secondary market liquidity in the government debt market, increasing the supply and issuance of non-government bonds, and developing a professional investor base.