Speaking during a media engagement in Kigali on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, Irembo's Chief Operations Officer, Patrick Gategabondo, said the expansion strategy aligns with the company's vision of providing a unified platform for all types of services.
Irembo, established in 2014, is renowned for developing and maintaining IremboGov, a one-stop portal for e-governance services and the gateway to Rwandan government services. Some of the new services on the platform include applications for import permits, business operator licenses, premises registration services, the legalization of public documents from Rwanda to be used abroad (Apostille), and ID replacement for diaspora residents, among others.
As part of its expansion strategy, Irembo has obtained a Payment Service Provider (PSP) license from the Central Bank, which enables the company to offer secure and efficient digital payment solutions through its platform, Irembopay.
"We've seen how our collaboration with the government has effectively addressed challenges in government-to-citizen and government-to-business services. We believe this approach will be even more impactful in solving business-to-citizen and business-to-business needs,' Gategabondo stated.
As part of its expansion strategy, Irembo has also set its sights on markets beyond Rwanda's borders, aiming to forge broader partnerships and extend its influence regionally and internationally, particularly the Global South.
"Irembo was a brainchild of the new Rwanda, but when it began being developed, we immediately understood that there was no way we could build a solution that does not extend beyond just Rwanda. So, one of the absolute plans and dreams we have is to build something so intelligent that it will actually help build other continents," Gategabondo explained
Considering that there are more or less similar issues in terms of access and reaching out to citizens this development seeks to replicate the model available in Rwanda in other places including Central, Western, Southern, Eastern Africa, and beyond.
"We have a strong belief that we are on the right path, and hopefully, if we can move forward soon enough, we'll be able to reach the next level,' Gategabondo said, emphasizing the company's future plans.
IremboPay is a digital payment gateway that allows companies and other organizations to receive digital payments. It supports various payment options and is integrated with telcos, mobile money, and credit or debit cards.
Kevin Kabera, the Business Development Manager at Irembo, told IGIHE that the service, which has primarily been operational for government institutions, has now begun expanding into the private sector.
"Now that we've secured the license from the Central Bank, we are currently engaging different private companies to start supporting them with digital payment collections," Kabera revealed, adding, 'Irembopay is fully integrated with Momo, Airtel Money, different banks and cards.'
The recent certification from the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) allows Irembo to compete with other payment gateways in the market.
In the recent past, Irembo has established significant strategic partnerships to broaden its service offerings and reach new markets.
One major collaboration is the partnership with Old Mutual Rwanda, which aims to create an easy-to-use online platform where people can explore and purchase insurance products without the need for in-person consultations.
According to the management, the collaboration with the insurer represents Irembo's significant move into the private sector, which focuses on providing digitized insurance services.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
