Ubumwe, Umurimo, Gukunda Igihugu Unity, Work, Patriotism

Transcription

1 Official name: Republic of Rwanda Location: 1 57 S, 30 4 E Time zone: GMT + 2 (in summer +1) Motto: Ubumwe, Umurimo, Gukunda Igihugu Unity, Work, Patriotism Anthem: Rwanda Nziza Capital: Kigalii Surface area: 26,338 sq. km Political system: Unitary state with multiparty democracy Head of state: President Paul Kagame Next election date: 2017 Population: Approximately 11,263,000 people (2010 est., grow rate 2,8%) Birth rate: 4.2 Infant mortality: 60 /1000 Life expectancy: 65.7 Density per sq km: 445 (most densely populated country in Africa) Demonym: Rwandan, Rwandese Official languages: English, French and Kinyarwanda. Kiswahili is also used in commercial hubs. Principal religions: The nation is some 56.5% Roman Catholic, 26% Protestant, 11.1% Adventist, and 4.6% Muslim, original beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001) International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,

2 WTO Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity): $7.89 billion.(est.2015) GDP - per capita (PPP): $ 710 GDP - by sector: agriculture: 33.6%, Industry: 14%, Services: 52.3 % 2014: service sector 47%; Agriculture 33%; industry 5% Rwanda external debt is 28% of GDP. Cultivated land: 46% GDP annual growth rate 7.70% Inflation rate 6% (est. 2015) Government debt to GDP 28% Social security rate for employers 5%, for employees 3% Personal income tax max. 30% Corporate tax 30% Tax on dividend 15% VAT 18% 2013 there were 566,370 students in secondary schools and 84,448 in tertiair schools, and 93,000 in TVET colleges. 2,2 M people has a bankaccount. Imports is $ 2 billion, exports $ 0.5 billion. Property tax on buildings 0..2% and on land $ / m2 Cost of electric power $ 0.24 / KWh (Tanzania 17.4 ct; Kenya 15.5 ct; Ethiopia 6.3 ct; Zambia 5.3 ct) Cost of petrol $ 1.50 / L. No restrictions for FDI in buying land or real estate. Incentives FDI: - Corporate income tax down to 15% in sectors energy, transport & logistics, financial services, affordable houses. - Investment > $ 50 M in energy, manufactoring, tourism, health, IT will have a tax holiday of 7 years. Tax exemptions on imported goods: 1. Machinery, equipment & raw materials: no duty or VAT 2. Trucks > 20 T, refrigerated trucks, specialized vehicles, bull dozers, folk lifts, tractors and other heavy macines: no duty or VAT

3 3. A flat fee of 10% is applied for buildings / construction projects if: value > $ 1.8 M and realized within 2 years. (Materials are not produced in Rwanda at internat. standards.) 4. If you get exemptions on imported good for a project including VAT, you cannot get back the local VAT paid and you need to take the VAT in the total costs. 5. Investment allowance: When you invest in rural areas it is allowed to deduct immediate next year 50% of investments as investment allowance. In cities it is 40%. Currency: The unit of currency is the Rwanda franc (RWF), linked to the USD.The US dollar is the hard currency of preference. It may be impossible to exchange travellers cheques away from the capital. Credit cards, in specific VISA are usually only accepted at the major hotels in Kigali and the banks. (Maestro is a problem) Internet country code: RW with WIFI all over the country Calling code: +250 Transportation: Airports:9 (2007) Airports with paved runways: total: 4 Airports with unpaved runways: total: 5 Roadways: Over 15,000 km. Main roads in very good condition. Waterways: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2006) Ports and terminals: Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye Going to Rwanda All international flights arrive at Kigali International Airport, just 10 Km from central Kigali. International flights arriving in Kigali are with SN Brussels, KLM, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Burundi, Turkey Air and Rwandair Express. KLM had flights daily at (around) a.m. Amsterdam to p.m. Kigali and return around p.m. from Kigali to 5.30 a.m. Amsterdam. There are two direct flights from Brussels by SN Brussels Airlines. Rwandair Express has introduced two flights a day from Nairobi (Kenya) and Entebbe (Uganda), and two per week from Johannesburg. Rwandair also has daily flights to Bujumbura and 3 flights weekly to Kilimanjaro. With effect from January 9th 2009, Rwandair Express will fly thrice a week to Rubavu (Gisenyi-Rwanda) every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

4 Passport and visa A valid passport with visa is mandatory (3 month, 45). In view of the bilateral agreements, nationals of the following countries may visit Rwanda without visa for a period up to 90 days: USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sweden, Mauritius, South Africa and Hong Kong. Visas can be applied for online or bought upon arrival. Public holidays Good Friday and Easter Monday, which fall on variable dates, are recognized in Rwanda. Other public holidays are : 1 January (New Year s Day); 1 February (National Heroes Day); 7 April (Genocide Memorial Day); 1 May (Labor Day); 1 July (Independence Day); 4 July (National Liberation Day); 15 August (Assumption Day); 1 October (Patriotism Day); 25 December (Christmas Day), and 26 December(Boxing Day). UMUGANDA is a public community service. It is a systematic approach for persons 18 years and older to voluntarily contribute their time, labor, professionalism, and workmanship to the country. UMUGANDA takes place during the last Saturday in every month between a.m. and noon. During this time people provide services to their community. When to visit Rwanda can be visited throughout the year. Gorilla trekking and other forest walks are less demanding during the drier months. The European winter is the best time for birds, as Palea-arctic migrants supplement resident species. What to wear Dress codes are informal. Daytime temperatures are generally warm, so bring lots of light clothing, supplemented by light sweaters for the cool evenings and heavier clothing for the Parc des Volcans and Nyungwe. When tracking gorillas, wear sturdier clothing to protect against stinging nettles, and solid walking shoes. A hat and sunglasses provide protection against the sun, and a waterproof jacket may come in handy in the moist mountains. What to bring Binoculars will greatly enhance game drives and forest walks, as will a good field guide to East African birds. Bring a camera and an adequate stock of film. Print film is available but transparency film is not. Toiletries and other essentials can be bought in the cities. Communications

5 Rwanda has an excellent cell phone network covering almost the entire country. International phone calls can be made easily. Appropriate SIM cards for the network are readily available everywhere, even in remote towns, and cell phones can be purchased or rented from major shops in Kigali. Most towns of any size will have several Internet cafes and computer centers. Wireless access all over the country. ipad / iphone with GPS works very well. Getting around Rwanda has possibly the best roads in East Africa. Most visitors who have booked through a tour company will be provided with good private vehicles, usually 4-wheel drive. All of the major centers are connected with local and luxury bus services. Air charter services are available anywhere in the country Hiking and biking The fine road network, with little traffic, offers wonderful opportunities for long bicycle trips across the verdant hills and valleys. Mountain biking and hiking can be enjoyed on the thousands of kilometers of fine rural trails linking remote villages, criss-crossing the entire country. Gorilla permits Gorilla Permits can be arranged by a travel operator, or can be purchased directly through the Office Rwandaise du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN) / The Rwanda Office of Tourism and National Parks, at the headquarters in Kigali, or at their office in Musanze. Permit is $ plus costs for transport and hotel / lodge. Safety and health A certificate of yellow-fever vaccination is required. Much of Rwanda lies at too high an elevation for malaria to be a major concern, but the disease is present and prophylactic drugs are strongly recommended. (use something against mosquito bites in the evening). It is advisable not to drink tap water. Bottled mineral water can be bought in all towns. Hospitals are located in all major towns. Seasons and climate A combination of tropical location and high altitude ensures that most of Rwanda has a temperate year-round climate. Temperatures rarely stray above 30 degrees Celsius by day or below 15 degrees Celsius at night throughout the year. The exceptions are the chilly upper slopes of the Virunga Mountains, and the hot low-lying Tanzania border area protected in Akagera National Park. Throughout the country, seasonal variations in temperature are relatively insignificant. Most parts of the country receive in excess of 1,000mm of precipitation annually, with the driest months being July to September and the wettest February to May.