The Lufthansa Group has begun sourcing software testing services from Kigali through a new partnership with the Rwanda-based subsidiary of German firm TestSolutions GmbH, signaling a major step in Rwanda’s ambitions to become a digital outsourcing hub.
TestSolutions Rwanda, established in 2022, is now formally providing IT quality assurance and software testing to Lufthansa, Europe’s largest airline group. The deal builds on a relationship that began in 2007 between Lufthansa and TestSolutions GmbH in Germany, and reflects a strategic expansion of that partnership into East Africa.
Executives from both companies launched the collaboration during a recent joint delegation trip to Kigali, where they held meetings with German and EU diplomats and senior Rwandan government officials to discuss digital transformation, workforce development, and aviation technology.
The Managing Director of TestSolutions GmbH, Christian Knoop said the Kigali team complements the company’s German operations both in expertise and in time zone alignment, which facilitates seamless collaboration with Frankfurt-based teams.
“Our Kigali team has exceeded expectations in terms of adaptability and skill,” Knoop said. “It proves Rwanda’s readiness for high-level IT services on a global scale.” He added that the partnership not only expands service delivery to Lufthansa but also addresses the growing digital talent shortage in Germany.
TestSolutions Rwanda now delivers a full range of services including test automation, performance and load testing, test management, manual testing, and test design. The company serves clients across both Europe and Africa, and has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the African Leadership University to support skills development and academic-industry integration.
The Kigali office runs upskilling programs to prepare Rwandan professionals for international ISTQB certifications and tool-based technical roles, a move Knoop says is critical to ensuring sustainable pipeline development for the global IT sector.
Lufthansa’s Head of Test and Quality Management, Susanne Kunkel said the expansion strengthens the airline’s global testing capabilities while improving cost efficiency and adding cultural diversity to its IT operations.
“With English as an official language, modern IT infrastructure, and a strong focus on education, Rwanda has developed into a stable and promising location,” she said. “This portfolio expansion ensures sustainable integration into the global IT market.”
The partnership comes at a time when Rwanda is actively positioning itself as a regional technology hub. Its government has rolled out infrastructure investments, backed tech startups, and launched digital education initiatives as part of a broader strategy to become a knowledge-based economy by 2035.
The presence of Lufthansa Group in Kigali adds a new dimension to Rwanda’s growing global tech footprint and signals rising confidence among European multinationals in African digital ecosystems.
The Kigali team will operate in close coordination with Lufthansa’s global test factory, providing round-the-clock support for aviation software quality control. For Rwanda, the move is both a reputational win and a practical step toward building a high-skilled digital workforce integrated into global value chains.
