Babson College-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center Established

BABSON PARK, Mass., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Babson College-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center has been established in Kigali to focus on developing entrepreneurs throughout Rwanda. The first of its kind in Rwanda, the Center will be staffed by Babson and housed within the Rwandan Private Sector Federation (PSF).

The Center, Babson and PSF will work with regional Rwanda Investment Groups to identify high potential and large-scale projects to fund and develop. The Center will also work with individual entrepreneurs to help them develop their business plans, create coaching and network programs for current and aspiring entrepreneurs, and offer individualized and group business skills training along with specialized seminars for entrepreneurs and PSF members.

Babson President Leonard Schlesinger, PSF President Robert Bayigamba, and Undergraduate School Dean Dennis Hanno signed an agreement to launch the Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center during campus ceremonies on Sept. 27.

Babson graduates Ben Cox '10 and Chris Smith '09 Global Entrepreneurship Program '10 will serve in Rwanda as Center project directors. Dean Hanno is Center Executive Director.

Bayigamba is President of the PSF, the principal business community in Rwanda. He is also Managing Director of Manumetal, the leading furniture manufacturer in wood, metal and aluminum in Rwanda. He has been a Cabinet Minister, and has served as Head of the Privatisation Secretariat under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning where he coordinated the privatization of 20 state owned companies including strategic utility companies.

Center Established Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P70EB9SJVdw&feature=player_embedded

Press Release:

http://www3.babson.edu/Newsroom/Releases/BabsonRwandaEntrepreneurship.cfm

Dean Hanno's Blog:

http://blogs.babson.edu/ugdean/2010/09/30/big-things-from-babson-to-rwanda/

Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., is recognized internationally as a leader in entrepreneurial management education. Babson grants BS degrees through its innovative undergraduate program, and grants MBA and custom MS and MBA degrees through the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College. Babson Executive Education offers executive development programs to experienced managers worldwide. For information, visit www.babson.edu.

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SOURCE Babson College