MoYA Convenes Roundtable on Sustainable Monetization Pathways for Rwanda’s Creative Industry

The Ministry of Youth and Arts (MoYA), in collaboration with the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), the Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB), and the Office of the Government Spokesperson (OGS), convened a roundtable discussion with creative entrepreneurs, creative technology platforms, and creative financing partners to discuss sustainable pathways for monetizing Rwanda’s creative industry.

The meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange views on strengthening the creative economy through sustainable monetization mechanisms, expanding access to finance, and enhancing collaboration between the public and private sectors.

During the discussion, the Minister of Youth and Arts, Hon. Abdallah Utumatwishima, reminded participants of the National Umushyikirano Council recommendation on the creative industry. He provided an update on the progress made so far, highlighted areas that are still under assessment, and emphasized the importance of promoting local monetization solutions and strengthening digital self-reliance while awaiting the expansion of global digital platforms.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Jean-Guy Afrika, informed participants that the Government of Rwanda has published the Collective Management Organisations (CMO) Ministerial Order. He noted that RDB is strengthening the Intellectual Property Office to operationalize the CMO and support the protection and management of intellectual property rights.

The Minister of ICT and Innovation, Hon. Paula Ingabire, thanked all participants for their candid and constructive contributions and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working closely with the financial and creative sectors. She noted that while challenges remain, long-term sustainability will be achieved by strengthening domestic monetization opportunities, improving creators’ access to finance, protecting intellectual property rights, and fostering a thriving local creative ecosystem.

The roundtable reaffirmed the shared commitment of Government institutions and industry stakeholders to advancing a sustainable and competitive creative economy that enables creators to generate value from their work while contributing to Rwanda’s economic development.