About Nordic Baltic Forum in Rwanda

About Nordic Baltic Forum in Rwanda

Key Highlights

🌍
New Markets

Explore trade & investment opportunities in Rwanda & the Nordic-Baltic region.

💡
Innovation

Learn from Nordic-Baltic expertise in digital, health, and sustainable business.

🤝
Networking

Connect with leaders, investors, and executives for strategic partnerships.

📚
Education & Research

Partner with universities and institutions to foster talent and innovation.

1. Rwanda Baltic-Nordic Business Forum

The Rwanda Baltic-Nordic Business Forum brings together business leaders, government institutions, financial organisations, academia, and cultural actors from Rwanda and the Nordic-Baltic region.

Rwanda

Denmark

Finland

Norway

Sweden

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania



Who will attend:

The business forum will bring together:
  • Private Sector: Baltic-Nordic and Rwandan business in Rwanda, private sector business support organisations (e.g. chambers of commerce, internationalisation support organisations, start-ups, entrepreneurship and SMEs incubator organisations, etc.)
  • Government Ministries and Agencies, Development Partners: both political and administrative decision makers e.g. Ministry of Finance and Investment Promotion, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of International Trade, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), National Agriculture Export Board (NAEB), Private Sector Federation (PSF), Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC), etc.
  • Financial Institutions: Baltic-Nordic Development Financial Institutions promoting exports, i.e., through export credits; Rwanda financial institutions
  • Educational Institutions: Early childhood & Foundational learning, TVET, Higher Education Institutions
  • Cultural & artistic organisations: i.e. Performing arts, writing, sports
  • Non-governmental organisations advocating for the themes of the forum

Purpose:

The forum strengthens bilateral and multilateral ties, drives sustainable investments, and fosters innovation-led growth. It positions Rwanda as a gateway to East Africa by:

Promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) and exports:
  • Expanding trade opportunities
  • Enhancing the business environment through public-private dialogue
  • Building educational and research partnerships
  • Encouraging cultural exchange for deeper mutual understanding
  • Promoting Baltic-Nordic Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Rwanda across key identified sectors and promote Rwandan exports to the Baltic-Nordic region within the framework of the ramped up bilateral relations. The region offers a multi-sector range of financial guarantees to de-risk investments, thus supporting private investors to explore opportunities in challenging markets in Africa and particularly in Rwanda.
  • Diversifying and boosting trade between Rwanda and the Baltic-Nordic region, and maximise the benefits of the existing warm relationship between Rwanda and the countries
  • Providing a platform for private-public dialogue to further improve the business environment (e.g. regulatory framework)
  • Establishing educational collaborative partnerships for Knowledge and Innovation Sharing which in turn will support the sustainability of the trade relations in the long run
  • Cultural exchanges to promote mutual understanding, which in the long run facilitate communications and common understanding
  • Showcase progress of implementation of signed Agreements from previous fora

Key Sectors:

  • Cross-cutting topics include sustainability, and smart systems through digitalisation & data analytics (AI, Cybersecurity, IoT, etc.), Fintech, E-commerce, transport & logistics and technical & vocational training.
  • Women owned business (Hospitality industry, wellness & through evidence-based nutrition and dietetic practices, cosmetics, beekeeping & hone processing, sportswear, industrial & institutional cleaning products)
  • Agribusiness & agro-processing (coffee, tea, packaging, FMCGs)
  • Real estate, construction & affordable housing
  • Manufacturing & mining value chains
  • Environment & renewable energy
  • Health & medical innovation (pharma, healthtech, clinical trials)
  • Digital governance, smart systems, fintech & e-commerce
  • Education & vocational training
  • Tourism, arts & culture

Expected Outcomes:

  • Increased investments through:
    • Foreign Direct Investments -FDIs
    • Joint Ventures -JVs,
    • Equities/shares in existing businesses,
    • Franchising/Licensing,
    • Agencies,
    • Technology supply and capacity building products and supply deals
  • Stronger academia-business collaboration
  • Strengthened business-educational-community and Innovative ecosystems (Linkage between Academia and Private companies initiated and strengthened)
  • Double degree programs and new institutional partnerships
  • Cultural and creative industry exchanges
  • Enhanced trade and digital cooperation

Why Rwanda?

As a regional hub with pro-business policies, generous investment incentives, and a strong innovation ecosystem, Rwanda offers an ideal entry point to East Africa.

Expected Participants:

  • 200 companies from the Nordics & Baltics
  • 30 universities and higher education institutions

2. Event Program

Detailed schedule of activities and events

9–11 March 2026
  |  
Serena Hotel, Kigali – Rwanda
09:00 – 10:15 — Official Opening Ceremony & High-Level Dialogue
  • Government of Rwanda remarks on becoming a financial hub & gateway to Africa
  • Nordic–Baltic Ambassadors & private-sector speeches
  • Keynote: “Accelerating Sustainable Growth through Innovation and Investment Partnerships”
  • Keynote: “Rwanda/Africa – Unlocking Barriers to Trade, Driving Inclusive Prosperity”
10:30 – 15:30 — Investor Forum & Sector Panels
  • Rwanda Market & Investment Outlook
  • Panels with international/local investors, DFIs, family offices, policymakers
  • Thematic Focus:
    • Education / EdTech & Research Collaboration
    • Health / Health Tech & Life Sciences
    • AgriSystems (Food Processing) & Climate Finance
15:30 – 17:00 — Inclusive Investment Showcase & Networking
  • Women-led, refugee-led ventures & social enterprises
  • Coffee & tea industry exhibition
  • Investor meet-and-connect with SMEs
19:00 – 21:00 — Gala Dinner & Cultural Night
  • Hosted by Government of Rwanda + Nordic-Baltic partners
  • Cultural performances celebrating collaboration
09:30 – 14:30 — Breakout Sessions: Sector Deep Dives
  • Education & Research Collaboration: TVET, Erasmus+, EdTech, twin-degree programs
  • Health & Innovation Systems — AMR, clinical trials, vaccines, diagnostics, technology transfer, One Health
    • Co-hosted with ICARS, IVI, UGHE, University of Rwanda
    • Strengthening local manufacturing for vaccines & medical devices
    • Scaling innovations in maternal/child health & NCD prevention
  • Green & Digital Economy: fintech, data infrastructure, circular economy, renewable energy
15:00 – 16:30 — Closing & MoU Signing
  • Signing of MoUs + investment commitments
  • Joint session: “Connecting Knowledge & Capital – Building Innovation Pipelines”
17:00 – 18:00 — Optional Cocktail Gathering
  • Informal networking with Nordic-Baltic & East African partners
Partner & Government Office Visits
Day 3 will focus on fostering collaboration and building partnerships. In addition to institutional visits, the program will host Business-to-Business (B2B) sessions, as well as the signing of strategic deals and agreements facilitated by various partner institutions. Confirmed hosts and partners include the University of Rwanda, INES Ruhengeri, and the PSF Women Cluster, among others.

Institutional Engagement, B2B Meetings & Partnership Deals:

Matchmaking directly at the potential partners offices

Visits to different authorities:

Innovation & Tourism Experiences
  • Kigali Innovation City, Agri-Tech hubs, Fintech clusters
  • Visits to INES Ruhengeri, CUR, Rwanda Polytechnic, University of Rwanda
  • Optional tours: Kigali Cultural Tour, Musanze, Bugesera, Rwamagana, Akagera NP, Nyungwe NP

Organised touristic tours to different attractions - at own costs:

Akagera National Park
Visit Akagera
Nyungwe National Park
Visit Nyungwe
Volcanoes National Park (home to Mountain Gorillas)
Visit the Park
Nyandungu Urban Wetland Eco-Tourism Park
Visit the Park
Kigali Sightseeing

Expected Outcomes

Partnerships

20+ MoUs & partnerships signed

Investment

€50M+ in investment commitments announced

Researchs

10+ university and research collaborations established

Industries

Strengthened education-industry linkages

Investors

Expanded Nordic-Baltic and East African investor network

3. Meet Our Speakers

The Rwanda Baltic-Nordic Business Forum is proud to host a distinguished lineup of speakers from Rwanda, the Nordics, and the Baltics. Our speakers include government leaders, successful entrepreneurs, global investors, innovators, and thought-leaders from sectors such as finance, trade, digital transformation, renewable energy, health, and education.

They bring first-hand insights from Rwanda’s fast-growing economy and Nordic-Baltic innovation hubs, offering practical strategies for entering new markets, building partnerships, and scaling businesses sustainably.

Expect to hear inspiring success stories, policy directions, and investment opportunities directly from those shaping the future of trade, technology, and sustainable growth across Africa and Europe.

Check full list of Speakers

4. Partners & Supporters

The Rwanda Baltic-Nordic Business Forum is made possible through the collaboration of visionary partners and supporters who share a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and cross-regional cooperation.

Our partners include:
  • Government institutions driving policy and investment opportunities
  • Private sector leaders fostering entrepreneurship and trade
  • Financial institutions enabling growth through funding and risk management
  • Educational and research organisations shaping talent and innovation
  • Cultural institutions strengthening mutual understanding through creativity and exchange
Together, they provide the expertise, networks, and resources that make this forum a catalyst for business success and long-term partnerships.

Check full list of Event Stakeholders

5. Practical Information

  • Venue & logistics – TBA
  • Registration & contact details – Register here
  • Links to updates / press releases – TBA

6. Building on Past Success

The Forum builds on past successes and aims to deepen cooperation in key sectors. By uniting business leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators, it provides a unique platform to unlock new opportunities, strengthen sustainable partnerships, and position Rwanda and the Baltic-Nordic region as engines of growth and innovation.

🚀 Register to unlock new opportunities