President Paul Kagame on Saturday received renowned global business leaders Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group, and Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo, who are in Kigali as part of initiatives aimed at boosting entrepreneurship and economic growth across Africa.
During the meeting, President Kagame and the visiting business figures discussed opportunities for collaboration in job creation, innovation, and supporting Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
Jack Ma and Jerry Yang are in Rwanda for the seventh edition of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH), a flagship entrepreneurship programme launched by the Alibaba Group to empower African entrepreneurs and strengthen the continent’s startup ecosystem.
The ABH initiative identifies and supports outstanding African entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas. This year’s programme will announce ten finalists who will share a grant worth USD 1.5 million, aimed at helping scale their businesses and create sustainable employment.
Jack Ma, one of the world’s most influential tech entrepreneurs, has an estimated net worth exceeding USD 27.2 billion, while Jerry Yang’s wealth is estimated at over USD 3.1 billion.
Their presence in Kigali highlights Rwanda’s growing profile as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic partnerships focused on Africa’s economic transformation.
