Rwanda is turning to Qatar for strategic investment in sports, hoping to tap into the Gulf nation’s global expertise and financial muscle to help fuel Africa’s growing but underdeveloped sports economy.
At a recent networking event in Doha, Jean Claude Ngarambe, first secretary at the Rwandan embassy in Qatar, emphasized that Rwanda views sports not just as entertainment, but as a serious driver of economic and social progress.
“Through strategic investment, infrastructure, and global events, Qatar has become a beacon of what sport can achieve in the 21st century,” Ngarambe told attendees, pointing to Qatar’s successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup as a model for what sport can deliver when integrated into national development strategies.
“The strong diplomatic ties between our two nations and our shared vision for sports as a transformative power give us an ideal foundation to build on.”
Ngarambe was speaking ahead of the SportsBiz Africa Forum 2025 (SBA2025), which will take place on September 9, 10 in Kigali.
The event aims to bring together investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore Africa’s potential in the global sports economy.
While the continent’s sports industry currently contributes just 0.5% to Africa’s GDP, well below the global average of 2%, the Rwandan diplomat made it clear that the untapped potential is significant.
“The potential is vast,” Ngarambe said, citing studies that estimate every $1 invested in sports can return as much as $124 in economic value, thanks to its ripple effects across sectors like media, tourism, event management, infrastructure, technology, and talent development.
Positioning Kigali as a regional hub for conferences, sports, tourism, and innovation, Ngarambe highlighted Rwanda’s business-friendly environment, efficient infrastructure, and transparent governance.
He described SBA2025 as a launchpad for serious continental change, with core features including a policymaker’s roundtable to develop a coordinated strategy for industry growth and a “deal room” that will connect investors with vetted sports ventures across Africa.
He urged Qatari stakeholders present at the event to participate in SBA2025 and help build an ecosystem that can “uplift communities, create jobs, and define Africa’s future on its own terms.”
He added, “As Rwanda and Qatar depend on our collaboration, let us work together to make the sports industry a shared success story for our economies, our youth, our continents.”
The event in Doha was organized by Rwanda Events in partnership with the Rwanda Convention Bureau, and served as a platform to foster international partnerships and promote investment opportunities linked to the Kigali forum.
Christian Gakwaya, CEO of Rwanda Events, also addressed the gathering, recognizing Qatar’s global influence in the sports industry and its potential role in shaping SBA2025.
He described SportsBiz Africa as a homegrown initiative launched last year in Rwanda and built on four main pillars: SportsBiz Africa Capital, a $350 million fund aiming to close at $120 million by September; SportsBiz Academy, which focuses on training and educating African talent for global sports careers; Sports Connect, a platform linking African professionals to job opportunities in the sports sector; and the SportsBiz Africa Forum, the flagship event taking place annually in Kigali.
Gakwaya extended an open invitation to Qatar’s business and sports leaders to attend the 2025 forum, where he said the deal room and roundtable, expected to include 20 to 25 African sports ministers and key ecosystem partners, will provide practical pathways for collaboration and investment.
