1. OBSTACLES TO BUSINESS GROWTH 1.Lack of access to funding Guarantee fund in the National Bank of Rwanda. High interest rates Time constraints involved in accessing the loans Collateral required before accessing funds Increase payment periods

2. 2. WEAK INSTITUTIONS Poor service delivery Insufficient capacity in sectors crucial to development

3. 3. SMALL CUSTOMER BASE Very small middle class Lack of access to international market Unemployment

4. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS Increase loan size Provide alternative funding Reduce interests rates Increase payment period Build capacity to meet specific needs Encourage people to train Efficient service delivery Facilitate growth of small businesses Reduce cost of doing business Rwandan Embassies to expand export efforts

5. PARTNERSHIPS Government NGOs Private sector federation The media Institutions of learning International markets The East African Community

6. OUR ROLE Advocacy Lobbying Creating partnerships and Associations Networks with the Diaspora Gain access to customer database Attend trade shows Follow-up Transparency in sharing data

7. SUCCESS INDICATORS Volume in sales. Increased number of investors. Number of established women owned businesses in the next two years. Number of people employed as a result of business ventures. Number of women business owners who have access to loans in the next two years. Increased efficiency in service delivery Have the interest rates reduced Customer satisfaction Has the pay back period on loans increased

8. Your Excellency,here are three areas we would like your help and partnership in solving some of the above mentioned obstacles: 1. Convey our issues to the relevant government departments. 2.Connect us with other possible alternative sources of funding 3.Through your networks and partnerships with other Ambassadors, help us to find and access foreign markets. I would like to invite you, Mr. Ambassador to respond to the various issues that the Rwandan business women have raised here today! IN CONCLUSION

9. THANK YOU! MURAKOZE!