The Minister of Youth and Arts, Dr. Abdallah Utumatwishima, participated in the Rural Youth Enterprise Forum (RYEF) 2026, co-hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Arts (MoYA), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rwanda, and Caritas Rwanda. Held under the theme “Advancing Rural Youth Enterprise: What Works, What Matters, and What Can Be Scaled,” the forum provided a platform to examine successful approaches to rural youth entrepreneurship, identify areas for improvement, and explore opportunities for collaboration to accelerate business growth.

In his remarks, Minister Abdallah emphasized that supporting rural youth enterprises requires a holistic and coordinated approach involving government, development partners, and other stakeholders. He commended the Private Service Provider (PSP) model for connecting young entrepreneurs with business coaching, mentorship, digital solutions, access to finance, markets, and business networks.

He reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to working with CRS Rwanda, Caritas Rwanda, and other partners to strengthen support systems for rural youth, enabling them to establish sustainable businesses, create jobs, and contribute to Rwanda's national development.