I have a hospitality business and depend on tourism. How will I keep my business during a time when people are not traveling?
Hospitality & Tourism
I have a hospitality business and depend on tourism. How will I keep my business during a time when people are not traveling?
Answer: In Rwanda, tourism is an important sector. While travel to and from Rwanda by air or land is still prohibited as of May 5th, 2020, the Government of Rwanda and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) are looking at ways in which to ease the burden on the tourism and hospitality industry.
As of May 4th, hotels and restaurants may now operate again, but they must close by 7:00 pm each day. They must also install hygiene stands so that customers and staff can wash their hands, or apply hand sanitizer when they enter. As with all businesses, all employees must wear a mask – and customers too! And always keep a distance.
Gyms, nightclubs, bars, churches, and other large gathering places will stay closed until further notice.
There are also initiatives like the Corona Action Rwanda initiative at www.coronaactionrwanda.rw. This initiative is not specifically for the hospitality industry, but it will provide both support and grants to organizations that apply by May 8th, 2020.
Finally, for companies who faced challenges in filing their annual returns and annual accounts due to the lockdown and measures put in place to contain the spread of COVID-19, to the office of the Registrar General in RDB period has been extended until 31st of July 2020.
Be Smart! If you are part of the tourism sector, make sure to stay up-to-date by following RDB for announcements on loans and other measures, as well as keeping in touch with your association, chamber and PSF so that you know what is available to your business.
For more information
https://www.newtimes.co.rw/business/government-commits-supporting-local-tourisms-recovery-post-covid-19
Amahoteri & Ubukerarugendo
Nkora ubucuruzi bwo mu rwego rw’amahoteri kandi bushingiye ku bukerarugendo. Ni gute ubucuruzi nkora buzakomeza gukora mu gihe abantu badakora ingendo ?
Igisubizo:Mu Rwanda, ubukerarugendo ni urwego rw’ingirakamaro. Mu gihe ingendo zo mu kirere no ku butaka ziva cyangwa zigana mu Rwanda zikibujijwe uhereye ku wa 5 Gicurasi 2020, Guverinoma y’u Rwanda n’Urwego rw’Igihugu rushinzwe Iterambere mu Rwanda (RDB) biri gusuzuma uburyo byakoroshya ingaruka iki cyorezo kigira ku rwego rw’ubukerarugendo n’amahoteri.
Uhereye ku wa 4 Gicurasi 2020, amahoteri na resitora yemerewe kongera gukora ariko agomba gufunga saa moya z’umugoroba buri munsi. Zigomba kandi gushyiraho aho gukarabira ku buryo abakiriya n’abakozi babasha gukaraba intoki, cyangwa hagakoreshwa umuti wo gusukura intoki igihe abakiriye binjiye muri hoteri na resitora.Nk’uko bigenda ku bikorwa byose by’ubucuruzi, abakozi bose bagomba kwambara agapfukamunwa ndetse n’abo bakira bakaza bakambaye! Bagomba kandi gusiga umwanya hagati yabo.
Inyubako zikorerwamo siporo ngororangingo, utubyiniro, utubari, kiriziya n’insengero n’ahandi hantu hateranira abantu benshi birakomeza gufunga kugeza igihe hatangiwe andi mabwiriza.
Hatangijwe kandi imishinga irimo gahunda yo guhangana n’icyorezo cya Korona virusi mu Rwanda wasanga ku rubuga www.coronaactionrwanda.rw. Iyi gahunda ntireba by’umwihariko urwego rw’amahoteri, ahubwo izatanga inkunga n’impano ku bigobizazisaba uhereye ku wa 8 Gicurasi 2020.
Mu gusoza, amasosiyete y’ubucuruzi yagize ingorane mu gukora imenyekanisha rya buri mwaka na raporo y’ibaruramari ya buri mwaka kubera ingamba zo gufunga ibikorwa bitari iby’ingenzi n’ingamba zashyizweho mu gukumira ikwirakwira rya COVID-19 yongerewe igihe kugeza ku wa 31 Nyakanga 2020 kugira ngo abe yabigejeje mu biro by’Umwanditsi Mukuru muri RDB.
Menya amakuru agezweho! Niba ubarizwa mu rwego rw’ubukerarugendo, menya amakuru yose agezweho ukurikirana ibishyirwa ku rubuga rwa RDB kugira ngo umenye amatangazo yerekeye inguzanyo n’izindi ngamba ndetse ukomeze gukorana bya hafi n’ishyirahamwe ubarizwamo hamwe na PSF kugira ngo ubashe kumenya amahirwe aboneka muri bizinesi ukora.
What do new government measures to resume economic activities affected by COVID-19 mean for my business?
Question:
I heard that new measures to resume economic activities affected by COVID-19 were issued by the Government. What does this mean for my business?
Answer: The Government of Rwanda reviewed existing strategies to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 and approved a number of measures to enable economic activities to resume as of Monday, May 4, 2020. Here is what you need to know:
- General preventative measures must continue, including the need to wear masks in public at all times and adhere to hand hygiene and social distancing for all resumed activities. Mass screening and testing for COVID-19 will continue nationwide. Movement is prohibited from 8pm to 5am except with permission.
- Businesses will resume with essential workers; however:
-
- All non-essential employees should continue working from home.
- Markets will open for essential vendors not exceeding 50% of registered traders.
- Hotels and restaurants will operate but close by 7pm.
- Manufacturing and construction sectors will open with essential workers only.
- Electronic payments and online banking services should be used whenever possible.
- Public and private transport will resume within the same province. Transport between different provinces and the city of Kigali is not permitted.
- Motos and bicycles are not permitted to carry passengers but may carry goods and offer delivery services.
The Government is doing all possible to be sure that economic activities can begin to resume in a way that continues to keep everyone safe. The guidelines will be reviewed after 15 days upon a health assessment.
Be Safe! Make sure you continue to follow general preventative measures and resume economic activities only with essential workers. And stay healthy!
Reference: Office of the Prime Minister. Statement on Cabinet Resolutions of 30 April 2020.
What do I do if I have goods/cargo waiting to clear customs?
Question:
What do I do if I have goods/cargo waiting to clear customs?
Answer: On May 1, 2020, the Government of Rwanda issued regulations that require all goods/cargo to be immediately cleared and taken within one day from customs border posts. If an importer fails to take their goods/cargo within two days, they will be required to pay storage and parking fees as follows:
- Two Rwandan Francs per kilogram per day for parking.
- Two Rwandan Francs per kilogram in addition to normal storage fees in the warehouse.
- After two days, goods/cargo will be transported to Kigali warehouses. The cost will be the responsibility of the importer.
- To facilitate the transportation of cargo from Rusumo and Kagitumba borders, vehicle details (number plate and driver) and cargo owner must be communicated to MININFRA for travel clearance. This should be done via email at info@mininfra.gov.rw or WhatsApp: +250 788 884 431/ +250 788 698 556. For more information, call toll-free at 4287 (0788387125).
The Government is doing all possible to be sure that the clearance of goods/cargo takes place as efficiently and safely as possible.
Be Safe! Make sure you continue to follow general preventative measures. And stay healthy!
Reference: Rwanda Revenue Authority. Ref. 702/RRA/CG/CSD/2020. Issued 1 May 2020.
Ministry of Infrastructure Public Announcement. Issued 1 May 2020.
How can I restock my business at the warehouse during the COVID-19 crisis?
QUESTION
I have had difficulties restocking my business at the warehouse during the COVID-19 crisis. What can I do?
Answer: You may have received a message from PSF, the Private Sector Foundation, to help you solve your business issues during the pandemic. This could be because:
- As a small business, you are having cashflow issues and are worried you will not be able to pay for the goods you are supposed to receive from the warehouse.
- You do not want to use your cash to purchase only essential items, not non-essential items, to sell in your store.
- You are worried about moving around during this time.
The Government of Rwanda, working with RRA and PSF, understand that the COVID-19 crisis has damaged the cashflow of many small businesses. We understand that business people are wondering if and when they will begin to earn money again, and to fully stock their shops.
First, RRA and PSF are working to provide a guarantee and shop credit to small businesses so that you can continue to acquire goods that are now sitting in warehouses. Check back to this site for more information as this solution is still in development.
Second, RRA, PSF, the Police, and MINICOM have worked together to ensure that small businesses can get a pass to drive and pick up goods. If you are stopped by the police going to or from your warehouses, you can receive this pass. Write to info@psf.org.rw, or Faustin Karasira of PSF at faustink@psf.org.rw, if you do not yet have a pass to move as necessary to pick up your goods.
Third, banks like Bank of Kigali and KCB Rwanda are offering special loans to customers during this difficult time. To learn more, watch the videos at the bottom of the page.
If you are having problems picking up goods at a warehouse, bringing your goods to a warehouse, or have a question about the information above, you may call the numbers you see below. These numbers are PSF staff who are available to help you keep your business running during the shutdown.
Through the blue chat icon on the right corner of your screen, you can also ask a question of the SME Clinic experts.
1: Message from PSF and RRA on Warehouses (Friday 24 April 2020)
| Kinyarwanda | English |
| Muraho. Bisabwe na RRA ndetse na bayiri warehouse yuko zuzuye kandi zigomba gukomeza kwakira ibindi bintu, PSF irasaba abacuruzi n’abikorera bafite inbutu aho havuzwe kureba uko bajya kubifata mugihe kitarambiranye. Ukeneye ibindi bisobanuro ya hamagara: | Hello. At the request of RRA and the warehouses that are full and must continue to receive new items, PSF urges traders and the private sector using these warehouses to find out how to continue to pick up your goods. For more information call:
(see phone) |
Be Informed! Use the tools on this site to keep you up-to-date on new information, and do not hesitate to contact us for more information!