Author: Publisher

{On the 23 January 2014, the High Commissioner Vincent Karega presented the Credentials to His Majesty KING LETSIE III of the Kingdom of Lesotho. }

In his speech, HE Vincent Karega expressed his great satisfaction and happiness for having been appointed by His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda as High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Lesotho. He confirmed that Rwanda will join hands with Lesotho in the pursue to achieve a better continent by enhancing a strong South-South cooperation.

His Majesty KING LETSIE III responded by acknowledging the progress Rwanda has made in recent years in different sector mainly, economic growth, ICT development, good governance etc and congratulated her for being elected a non permanent member of UNSC. His Majesty KING LETSIE III, was pleased by the cooperation between Rwanda and the Kingdom of Lesotho but stressed that more need to be done to explore more opportunities.

After the presentation of the letters to his majesty the King, High Commissioner Vincent Karega made a Courtesy call on the Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Dr M.T. Thabane.

Rwanda and Lesotho have strong relation and are cooperating on different level mainly in local government, decentralisation and rural development. Rwanda and Lesotho have in the recent exchanged visits at the ministerial level in a view to exchange experience and best practices in local government and decentralisation.

Recently, President Kagame addressed an event titled “Germany meets Africa” at the World Economic Forum. The event aimed at strengthening mutually beneficial relations between Germany and Rwanda was attended by President Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia as well leaders in the German public and private sector.

President Kagame shared Rwanda’s story with those present emphasizing Rwandans determination to transform their nation:

“Twenty years ago,the country sunk so low it hit the bottom. We couldn’t go lower and we couldn’t stay at the bottom. The only way was up.”

Speaking on Africa’s economy, President Kagame shared his belief that Africa is headed for continued progress:

“Each individual country in Africa is reforming. We are working to create the better future Africans deserve and leave the image we have come to be known for behind us. The belief in Rwanda is that there are no insurmountable challenges. With hard work we can succeed together as a continent.”

President Kagame urged the investors to move away from the belief that Africa is a charity case:

“We need to change the percetion that Africa is a place where people go to help, do good and sympathize. This will only change if both sides do the right thing to make sure that everyone is a winner.”

President Kagame added that investing in Africa leads to gains that go beyond monetary profits:

“The return on investments made in Africa is not just good in terms of numbers. You make an impact on the ground and change people’s lives. In the near future we see Africa standing on its own feet and taking its rightful place.”

Introducing President Kagame, former Chief Executive of Barclays Bob Diamond described Rwanda as an example of nation building through education, technology and business friendly environment:

“Rwanda is an example of rebuilding a country into one that is successful for the benefit of its citizens.”

Philipp Missfelder, a member of German Bundestag recognized the role of Rwanda’s history in shaping the nation:

“We should never forget what you did 20 years ago to end the Genocide and your efforts for the reconciliation efforts in Rwanda.”

Addressing the argument that Africa represents a risky investment, President Kagame added that the reason for some of the risk associated with Africa is because the right investments have not been made over the years.

“With the right investments and by working together, we can make sure the risks are minimized and the benefits help address issues where they exist on our continent.”

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KIGALI, Rwanda – 24 January, 2014}}: {Yesterday, under the Public Private Partnership agreement, the Government of Rwanda (GoR) and Korea Telecom Corporation (KT), the Republic of Korea’s largest telecommunications provider, signed a Closing Memorandum to their second Shareholders Agreement previously executed in September 2013 and have now established their second joint venture company (“Africa Olleh Services Ltd”). This second joint venture company is operationally tasked to accelerate deployment of Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and to develop and operate online services required to support Rwanda’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.
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The Closing Memorandum was signed by the CEO of Rwanda Development Board Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza and President, Global & Enterprise Group, KT Corporation Mr. HJ Kim.

In June 2013, GoR and KT entered into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to deploy and operate a comprehensive high-speed broadband network and also spearhead the expansion of the nation’s online services capability. Both these capabilities are necessary to achieve Rwanda’s goals in the ICT sector.

The first company (Olleh Rwanda Networks Ltd) is tasked to add 4G LTE to Rwanda’s comprehensive national fibre optic infrastructure and operate the combined infrastructure as a wholesale-only provider of high speed mobile broadband, covering 95% of the population by 2017.

The second company (Africa Olleh Services) will expand the country’s “cloud” services capability, enabling business, government and individuals to conduct a full range of economic and social activities online. Africa Olleh Services will operate as a systems integrator and provider of information technology solutions to the broader market across the region.
Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza said;

“The first company, Olleh Rwanda Network is already operational, has already received shareholder funding and is on target to complete 4G LTE wireless broadband roll out as planned. The second company, Africa Olleh Services Ltd will launch its operations early March 2014. It is expected to start the delivery of the first of many Government of Rwanda projects that it will be assigned in accordance with the shareholder’s agreement immediately.”

She further stressed the impact of such projects in further improving the ease of doing business. (Rwanda was ranked 32nd in the 2014 World Bank Doing business report globally and is the top reformer in the history of the World Bank doing business). She added that the systems and infrastructure created by Africa Olleh Services will enable businesses and Government to reduce transaction costs and save time. Its online services will increase productivity and efficiency throughout the economy, and the company will provide many highly skilled jobs.

Mr. HJ Kim said:

“The joint mission of the Government of Rwanda and KT Corporation is to use Africa Olleh Services as a strategic vehicle to develop a large pool of about 700 highly skilled professionals, to foster Rwanda’s development and facilitate KT’s entry into markets in sub-Saharan Africa.”

Achieving large-scale transfer of know-how from KT Corporation and developing a broad base of ICT skills is consistent with achieving the goals of Rwanda’s EDPRS-II (2013-2018) program.

{Two people in Shyogwe village have been injured over a grenade blast that occured due to their ignorance on 19th Sunday 2014.}

This grenade was picked by a small Child who took it to the father knowing it was a hammer ready for sale.

Speaking to journalists at Kabgayi hospital the victim confirmed injuries were simple and the blast came as a result of ignorance.

According to the Police spokesman in the southern province CSP Hubert Gashagaza, he adds the public not to pick every metal unknowingly b cause it may lead them to danger.

Lastly Rwanda police urged local leaders to sensitize the public to neglect the picking of unknown metals.