The licensing map should begin with activities, products and premises. List each activity the business will perform, who performs it, where it occurs and the regulator that controls it. Distinguish approvals needed to establish the entity from those needed before construction, import, advertising, sale or service delivery.

Common cross-sector workstreams include:

• an investment certificate where incentives or facilitation are sought;

• environmental and social impact assessment for projects within the prescribed categories;

• district or City of Kigali land-use, planning, construction, occupancy, fire and signage approvals;

• Rwanda Standards Board or Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority requirements for standards, conformity, inspection and regulated products;

• product or facility approvals for food, medicines, medical products, chemicals or other controlled goods;

• Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority licensing for regulated utilities, communications, transport and other covered services;

• National Bank of Rwanda approval for banking, insurance, payment, lending and other regulated financial activities; and

• sector permissions for mining, energy, tourism, education, health, agriculture or professional services.

The RDB Business Procedures portal includes the investment certificate and environmental-compliance procedures. RICA’s competition and consumer services cover consumer complaints, merger notifications, exemptions and unfair trade practices. These central resources should be supplemented with the current requirements of the sector authority.

Prepare a regulatory matrix showing the legal basis, responsible applicant, prerequisites, submission documents, dependencies, conditions and renewal or reporting duties. Where a licence attaches to specific premises, avoid assuming it can be transferred to a new site. Where a local professional, responsible officer or technical capacity is required, reflect that in recruitment and governance.