Bayern Munich, German football club, has recently announced a five-year collaboration with Rwanda that focuses on football development and boosting tourism. This partnership was unveiled during FC Bayern’s first home game of the season and involves the club working closely with Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports to establish a football academy, with the aim of enhancing football’s growth in the country. Additionally, “Visit Rwanda” branding will be prominently featured on matchday LED boards at the club’s 75,000-seat Allianz Arena, alongside various initiatives designed to promote tourism and investment opportunities in Rwanda.
Jan-Christian Dreesen, the CEO of FC Bayern, expressed his satisfaction with this collaboration, which is set to run until the summer of 2028. FC Bayern sees this as an opportunity to extend its presence to the African continent and contribute to Rwanda’s sports development, particularly in the realm of youth football. Andreas Jung, FC Bayern Executive Board Member Marketing, is also eager to support youth football programs and spread the word about Rwanda as a tourism destination.
Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, is thrilled about the partnership and emphasizes the potential for Rwandans, both boys and girls, to excel in football. Clare Akamanzi, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, views this partnership as an excellent way to reach millions of FC Bayern fans worldwide, inviting them to visit Rwanda and explore its tourism and business opportunities.
This partnership underscores the strong relationship between Germany and Rwanda, with various organizations and ministries engaged in cooperation across various sectors, including climate, energy, education, and business. Rwanda aims to leverage this partnership to attract more tourists, showcase investment prospects, and encourage longer stays in the country.
This is not the first partnership Rwanda has had with the aim of boosting tourism. The English Premier League side Arsenal, PSG from the French League One and NBA have also partnered with Rwanda for the same purpose.
