Nyarugenge — Rwanda Information Technology Authority (RITA) Friday awarded companies who outclassed others in uplifting the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

During the ceremony held at Hotel Serena in Kigali, Prime Minister Bernard Makuza underscored the significance of using ICT for Rwanda's development.

The Prime Minister stressed the aspect of including all sectors in ICT for a holistic realisation of the country's development.

"If we are to achieve the vision 2020, we need to join the farmers to help improve their farming methods. When we achieve that, I think our vision 2020 will have become a reality," said the Premier.

The Intego Awards, which are in line with the National Information and Communication Infrastructure plan (NICI), recognised over 20 ICT companies, public, policy makers, technocrats, institutions of higher learning and civil society, that are influential in the progress achieved in the country's ICT sector.

The awards ceremony was attended by ministers and the different players in the ICT sector in the country, both private and public.

Nkubito Bakuramutsa, the Director General of RITA, said the awards were proof that both the public and private sectors in Rwanda had embraced the ICT and joined hands to push for the vision 2020.

"It's been a long journey for Rwanda's ICT sector, but it's also been a very committed one, this is just the beginning and it is proof that there is commitment to ensure that the ICT sector in Rwanda develops and remains strong," he said.

The minister in charge of ICT in the president's office, Romain Murenzi, noted that with such strides in ICT, Rwanda is very close to achieving vision 2020.

"We hope that in the next couple of years, we shall be leading this sector in the region," he said, adding that next year alone, Rwanda will invest $100 million (Frw55.2 billion), about 3 percent of the country's GDP, in ICT.

The awards were given to the companies that came first in the16 categories, some of which included ICT infrastructure, e-Agriculture, Internet Service Provider, e-tourism, business outsourcing, and e-education.