The President said investment risks exist everywhere in the world and that a country’s developing status should not prevent viable and profitable projects from accessing the capital they need.
He made the remarks on November 2, 2026, in Antigua and Barbuda, where the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is taking place.
CHOGM 2026 is being held in St. John’s from November 1 to 4 under the theme of accelerating partnerships and investment for shared prosperity.
President Kagame said investment is essential for countries to develop, create jobs for young people, equip them with skills and support entrepreneurship and economic participation.
He identified the way investors perceive developing countries as one of the key challenges that needs to be addressed.
“What needs to change, and what could make a significant difference, is the mindset. There has been a long-standing perception that when you invest in developing countries, the risks are greater than in developed countries,” he said.
President Kagame argued that this perception should no longer be treated as fact, noting that every investment carries risks, whether it is made in a wealthy or developing country.
“That is not true. Risks exist everywhere, in any investment you want to undertake,” he said.
He said efforts should instead focus on finding ways to reduce those risks through pooling resources, strengthening partnerships and creating mechanisms that enable viable projects to access the capital they need.
President Kagame said the Commonwealth could play an important role in changing this perception and connecting countries, investors and financial institutions so that profitable projects are not denied funding simply because of where they are located.
The issue is among the priorities at CHOGM 2026, where the Commonwealth has launched an investment platform featuring more than 60 projects from 20 countries, with a combined value of approximately 30 billion dollars. The projects cover sectors including energy, transport, agriculture, manufacturing and the green economy.
Small countries do not mean small markets
President Kagame was asked what could be done when an entrepreneur from a small Commonwealth country has a potentially profitable project, but investors are reluctant to finance it because of the country’s size, credit ratings or difficulties in accessing capital.
He said the first step is to convince people that when a project is viable and has the potential to generate returns, the other challenges can be addressed.
He noted that governments and the private sector should work together to create mechanisms that help entrepreneurs access the equipment, financing and other resources needed to grow their businesses.
“If any project, regardless of its size, is viable and clearly has the potential to generate returns, the other issues that need to be addressed become easier to resolve,” he said.
President Kagame said this is where public-private partnerships become important, helping bridge the financing gap that prevents potentially transformative projects from securing investment.
Regional integration expands markets
President Kagame also said the limitations associated with a country’s small size can be addressed by expanding markets through regional integration.
He cited the integration of markets in the region where Rwanda is located, explaining that it allows a project in a small country to be viewed as serving a larger market beyond its national borders.
“You are no longer looking at a small project in a small country, but at a viable project in an expanding market that goes beyond where it is located,” he said.
He added that achieving this requires sound policies and strong, effective institutions, which he said are the responsibility of every government.
President Kagame said this is why Rwanda prioritises good governance, building strong institutions and creating mechanisms for cooperation between the government and the private sector, with the aim of facilitating investment and generating jobs and economic growth.
This year’s CHOGM is focusing on how Commonwealth countries can harness their collective strengths to increase investment and trade, promote innovation and address challenges facing small and developing states.
