CEO Links Gender Equality to Capital Market Growth at Ring the Bell Event

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Speaking at the 12th Ring the Bell for Gender Equality event, the Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Market Authority of Rwanda, Romeo Ngarambe said women’s access to financial opportunity delivers benefits far beyond the individual. Referring to the experience of a rural microfinance institution, he noted that lending to women often led to better family welfare, improved education outcomes, stronger household stability and greater long-term economic security.

CEO Ngarambe said the same principle applies to the capital market. A market that is open to more women, he said, can support the growth of businesses, expand savings, channel more investment into productive sectors and widen wealth creation across society. He added that women’s fuller participation as investors, entrepreneurs and leaders would strengthen Rwanda’s broader economic progress.

He said building an inclusive capital market requires more than regulation alone. It also demands strong investor protection, sound governance, financial literacy, targeted investor education and financial products that reflect people’s real circumstances. The message from the Kigali event, he said, was clear: Rwanda’s capital market must work for women as well, and their greater inclusion will help build a more resilient and prosperous economy.

Honourable Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Consolée Uwimana, issues a bold call to action at the Ring The Bell ceremony, noted that “Every woman and girl deserves to live and work in an environment free from violence and discrimination,” she said, stressing the need to close gender pay gaps and remove barriers that limit women’s access to resources. The minister also urged institutions, including the National Bank of Rwanda and the Private Sector Federation Rwanda, to develop a clear roadmap for women’s economic empowerment aligned with Vision 2050, emphasizing that supporting women-led businesses and promoting girls’ participation in sectors such as ICT, energy, and infrastructure will be key to achieving inclusive and sustainable development.

The event, organised by the Rwanda Stock Exchange with UN Global Compact, UN Women and the International Finance Corporation, was held under the 12th annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality campaign to mark International Women’s Day and promote equal participation in financial markets.