The official announcement of this funding took place in Brussels on the sidelines of the “Global Gateway” investment forum.
The disclosure occurred during a meeting between Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente and the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, which transpired on Thursday of this week.
The deal was signed by Rwandan Minister of Education, Gaspard Twagirayezu, who represented Rwanda, and Ms. Urpilainen, who represented the EU.
In addition to discussions about this critical funding, Dr. Ngirente also presented Rwandan initiatives in the domain of essential medical equipment.
One of these initiatives is the establishment of the African Institute for Bioproduction, a venture aimed at alleviating the scarcity of skilled professionals in the pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing sector.
The global COVID-19 crisis underscored the shortage of medical equipment worldwide, underscoring the pivotal importance of investing in the healthcare sector.
The European Investment Bank has also allocated supplementary funds to be utilized for the construction of schools and related infrastructure.
Among others, the role of the Global Gateway in the enhancement of medical equipment production was emphasized. The forum encouraged companies to make further investments in this field, with a focus on elevating the quality of services available to the general population.
The long -term loan will be used to purchase a milk cooling system from a Polish manufacturer, Faspol, after the export contract for the delivery of milk cooling installation with additional equipment and construction components concluded between the Exporter (Faspol) and Importer (Rwanda Agriculture Board).
“The buyer’s credit for Rwanda is a cutting-edge financing when it comes to the Polish banking sector. Due to that the Poland-Rwanda trade relations will open for a new chapter as Rwanda is considered one of the friendliest countries for doing business in Africa.
I am glad that the Polish development bank supports Polish exporters and, at the same time, responds to the developmental challenges of African countries,” said Marek Tomczuk, member of the management board, BGK.
The delivery of nearly 400 installations to local milk collection points is intended to reduce milk losses due to improper storage and increase production capabilities and access to dairy products.
Thus, it is of strategic importance for the socio-economic development of Rwanda.
Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning said that the agreement signed on Thursday 26th October 2023, is a testimony of the fast growing bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Poland.
He further disclosed that the two parties are exploring more opportunities for economic cooperation.
The loan is secured by the Polish export credit agency’s (KUKE) insurance policy. It covers, among others, results of political developments and events defined as force majeure.
“The Eastern Africa sub-region is particularly vulnerable, experiencing cascading effects on food security, nutrition, poverty, and livelihoods. Climate change leads to a breakdown of food systems, resulting in loss of rural livelihoods, income, and ecosystems,” said the Eastern Africa Parliamentary Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition in a joint statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, after attending the fifth general assembly meeting organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The meeting discussed current legal and policy issues and gaps related to climate action and food systems transformation in the sub-region, as well as opportunities and priority actions, including policy options and financing mechanisms, to advance this crucial agenda in Eastern Africa.
Adan Haji Yusuf, the chairperson of the alliance, stressed the essential role of parliamentarians in combating hunger and malnutrition. He highlighted that their legislative, budgetary, and oversight responsibilities uniquely position them to elevate the importance of food and nutrition security to the highest levels of the political and legislative agenda.
Moses Wetangula, speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, said Africa has struggled with poverty and hunger despite having all the necessary agricultural resources and policy instruments. Wetangula questioned why Africa, with its vast arable land, dynamic youth, favorable weather, and abundant water, has not been able to achieve food self-sufficiency and social transformation over an extended period.
“I urge fellow parliamentarians to shift their attention towards fulfilling the crucial investment requirements for agriculture, as outlined in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program, which stipulates that countries allocate ten percent of their national budget to agriculture,” he said.
According to recent FAO data for 2023, 135 million people in eastern Africa are undernourished, almost half of the 282 million undernourished people in sub-Saharan Africa. Some 22 million children under the age of 5 years are stunted, and 362 million people, representing 85 percent of the region’s population, cannot afford a healthy diet, FAO said.
David Phiri, special adviser to FAO assistant director-general and outgoing sub-regional coordinator for Eastern Africa, underlined the pressing concerns of both climate change and food insecurity and malnutrition in the Eastern African region. Phiri said that even though the sub-region hosts less than 25 percent of the African population, it accounts for almost 50 percent of the undernourished people in sub-Saharan Africa.
He emphasized that the bidirectional relationship between climate change and agriculture creates an unprecedented challenge for the farming population, noting that extreme weather events, which mainly occur due to climate change, are becoming among the major triggers of such a predicament.
The Eastern Africa Parliamentary Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, established in April 2019 in Arusha, Tanzania, comprises members of Parliament from Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
During the China-Africa TVET academic exchange seminar in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, representatives from both countries recognized the mutual benefits that effective collaboration could offer.
Ye Zhouxuan, an official from the Chinese Embassy in Kigali, emphasized the opportunity for sharing best practices, exchanging experiences, and jointly designing innovative programs to bridge skills gaps and align youth aspirations with job market demands.
“I am confident that the discussions and collaborations arising from this meeting will lead to exciting opportunities in TVET, fostering prosperity and growth for both our nations,” he said.
Ye, the secretary of economic and commercial counselor of the embassy, noted the importance of education in the long-term development of both nations. “We are pleased to see that the government of Rwanda places great importance on education and has made remarkable progress in this endeavor. China will continue to stand alongside Rwanda, working together to promote cooperation and development in the field of vocational education between our two countries.”
The seminar brought together delegates from Chinese colleges, representatives from the China Africa Vocational Education Alliance (CAVEA), and officials from both countries. CAVEA has played a role in linking Rwanda Polytechnic with Chinese colleges to enhance the quality of education programs.
Sylvie Mucyo, vice chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic, expressed optimism about the collaboration’s success. She highlighted the potential for RP to offer programs that bridge skills gaps, meet industry needs and equip students with knowledge and practical skills in cutting-edge technologies.
“This should produce highly skilled and competent graduates who will contribute to Rwanda’s economic growth, foster innovation, and support sustainable development,” she said.
Mucyo also said that fostering a culture of international cooperation and cultural exchange could create a diverse and enriched learning environment for students, preparing them to be global citizens capable of addressing 21st-century challenges.
RP comprises eight constituent colleges known as “Integrated Polytechnic Regional Colleges” located throughout Rwanda. Mucyo also commended the Chinese government’s support in terms of infrastructure, modern workshop facilities, and laboratory equipment for one of RP’s top colleges, IPRC Musanze, which is located in northern Rwanda.
The EAPCCO Council of Police Chiefs (CPC), was presided over by the Vice-President of Burundi, Prosper Bazombanza.
It was held under the theme: “Leveraging on the Regional Policing Capabilities in Promoting Law Enforcement Cooperation in the Fight Against Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime.”
The Vice-President reiterated the need for stronger and effective EAPCCO to strengthen cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime through harmonized legal frameworks, promote the rule of law and human rights, training, and other capacity-building initiatives.
The meeting took a number of key decisions to enhance regional cooperation in addressing contemporary security challenges.
These include embracing modern technology in the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime; utilizing INTERPOL policing capabilities; and ratifying relevant international instruments and harmonizing legislations controlling access to precursor chemicals and explosives.
They also resolved to strengthen exchange of information on the import, export, and production of precursor chemicals including other components, to reduce the risk of assembling and using improvised explosive devices; and public education on explosives, ordinates and explosive components.
The Chiefs of Police also recommended composing the EAPCCO Anthem and empowering the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat cattle rustling and illicit arms in the region.
The meeting also witnessed the change of EAPCCO chairmanship from Ethiopia to Burundi.
The hotels presented these essential materials to ‘Well Water Ministries’ as part of their ‘Women Development Project,’ a program dedicated to assisting girls who had to drop out of school and vulnerable women in their journey towards self-improvement.
Under the guidance of the ‘Women Development Project,’ these girls and women are taught valuable sewing skills, enabling them to generate income by crafting reusable sanitary pads for both children and women.
These eco-friendly pads are created using various fabrics, and the hotels have further supported the cause by providing 187 towels and 105 sheets that will be used in the production of these reusable pads.
Patrick Niyitegeka, the Assistant Human Resources Manager at Kigali Marriott Hotel, emphasized that this contribution reflects the hotel’s commitment to its community, aligning with the core values of Marriott, including ‘Serve360,’ which encourages giving back to the local community.
“Some of Marriott’s values, including ‘Serve360,’ emphasize our duty to contribute to our community,” Niyitegeka explained. “In this spirit, Kigali Marriott Hotel, in collaboration with Four Points by Sheraton Kigali, initiated this project to support ‘Well Water Ministries’ by providing them with essential equipment to facilitate their work and promote development.”
Josianne Tuyishimire, the Project Manager of the ‘Women Development Project,’ expressed her gratitude to the hotels, highlighting the significance of the support in their mission. She mentioned that the donated sheets were invaluable as they allowed the organization to save on high fabric costs.
“We greatly appreciate this support because it is integral to our work. We teach our beneficiaries to sew regular clothing as well as ‘diapers’ and ‘sanitary pads’ that can be laundered, and these sheets are indispensable for our operations,” Tuyishimire noted. “Some of the girls and women we assist cannot afford these necessities, including those we accommodate who lack bedding and sanitary materials. This donation is a significant relief for them.”
Kigali Marriott Hotel, inaugurated on October 4, 2016, extends its commitment to improving the Rwandan community beyond its hotel and restaurant services.
The hotel actively engages in philanthropic activities, such as assisting the less fortunate, participating in community projects, supporting individuals with disabilities, subscribing needy people for Mutuelle de Sante, and visiting patients, among other initiatives.
Only for the fiscal year 2022-2023, Rwanda exported avocado over 3.2 million kilograms worth EUR. 6.2 million. This brings to a total of EUR 13 million worth of avocados that have been exported from Rwanda since 2018.
This pivotal pilot shipment is the tangible fruit of a harmonious collaboration between the Rwandan government and an array of partners, including the invaluable contributions of IDH. Not to be overlooked, two eminent export companies, SOUK and Garden Fresh, played significant roles, underlining their leadership in the industry.
All these combined efforts were woven together as part of the visionary “Investing in Horticultural Development in Rwanda” project, affectionately known as HortInvest.
This project, generously funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Rwanda, is a profound commitment to the continued growth and prosperity of Rwanda’s horticulture sector.
The second wave of avocados, carefully sourced from over 1,200 farmers scattered across the picturesque Rwandan landscape and dispatched from Kigali to their eagerly awaiting customers in the Netherlands, holds an unprecedented historical significance.
It serves as a beacon of hope and a transformative moment within the horticulture industry, signalling an exploration of maritime routes as a potential solution to the incessant rise in transportation costs, a perpetual challenge faced by horticultural exporters that have hindered their access to the global market.
Commenting on the development, Joan Wiegman, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands underscored: “The initiation of the second trial shipment marks a significant turning point in the history of horticultural exports from Rwanda to the European market. This aligns with the Netherlands’ policy to promote Sustainable Trade and Investment with Rwanda and signifies the start of a long-term journey that will require cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Mr Oluwaseun (Seun) Rasheed, CEO of SOUK Farms said that they used to rely solely on air freight, which limited their capacity.
He highlighted that Sea freight not only expands their reach but also significantly reduces logistics costs, enabling better farmgate prices for smallholder farmers, which he believes is the backbone of their success (increasing by over 20% on average).
“Embracing sea freight is a giant leap towards sustainability. It aligns with our commitment to environmental responsibility. This project creates a groundbreaking path to a greener, more prosperous future for exporters of Avocado from Rwanda, Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda, and contributes to the national agenda of increased exports of horticulture crops from Rwanda,” he said.
While presiding over the event, Bizimana emphasised that this second European shipment follows the successful one executed in Dubai last year.
This marks a vital milestone in the ongoing endeavours to diversify export logistics routes, with the strategic aim of bolstering Rwanda’s competitiveness in international markets.
“This second shipment is part of Rwanda’s Agriculture Transformation Strategic Plan, contributing to a larger project focused on increasing the competitiveness of Rwanda’s horticultural products,” he stated.
Sylvie Nirere, Country Manager at IDH – Rwanda, emphasised, “This represents a significant milestone. If this second project successfully reduces carbon emissions and shipping costs for the European markets, it will open doors to numerous global buyers for Rwanda’s horticulture sector.”
Beyond the economic considerations, the choice to explore maritime routes is well-founded. The rising costs of airfreight, coupled with fragile and unreliable supply chains, have necessitated a shift toward more sustainable and cost-effective transportation systems.
It’s a realisation that the higher environmental carbon footprint associated with airfreight is not tenable in an evolving market focused on sustainability and efficiency. Sea freight emerges as a critical component in bringing this vision to fruition.
{{About NAEB }}
The National Agricultural Export Development Board, abbreviated as “NAEB” is a commercial public institution established by law No 13/2017 of 14/04/2017 in the framework of regulating and promoting the development and growth of Agriculture and Livestock export commodities in Rwanda, as well marketing them worldwide. The head office of NAEB is located at Gikondo, KK 530 St, in the City of Kigali, the Capital of the Republic of Rwanda.
{{About IDH}}
IDH puts people, planet, and progress at the heart of trade by leveraging the power of markets to create better jobs, better incomes, a better environment, and gender equity for all. Headquartered in the Netherlands, IDH has around 380 employees globally, operating in 20 landscapes and 12 commodities and sourcing regions with over 1000 public and private partners.
{{About HORTINVEST}}
HortInvest is a five-year project (2018-2022) implemented by a consortium of five organisations to support the private sector companies to meet domestic, regional, and international export market demands and develop the horticulture sector in Rwanda. This sea freight trial is part of HortInvest.
Emergencies can strike at any time, and they don’t discriminate based on location or profession. Having a well-equipped first aid kit and trained personnel on-site is not just a nice-to-have; it’s a necessity. Here are some compelling reasons why every office should invest in this crucial aspect of workplace safety:
{{Immediate Response to Emergencies}}
Accidents and sudden illnesses can happen anywhere, including the workplace. Having a first aid kit readily available and personnel with the skills to assist during emergencies ensures that the injured or unwell individual can receive immediate attention. This quick response can make a significant difference in the outcome.
{{Promotes Employee Well-being }}
When employees know that their workplace cares about their well-being, it creates a positive and supportive atmosphere. Feeling safe and supported can lead to increased job satisfaction, higher morale, and improved mental health. This, in turn, can enhance overall productivity.
{{Legal Compliance }}
Many countries have specific regulations that require employers to provide a safe working environment. Failure to meet these requirements can result in legal consequences. Having a first aid kit and trained personnel not only fulfills these legal obligations but also mitigates potential liability.
{{Reduces Downtime}}
Workplace accidents or health emergencies can disrupt the workflow and cause considerable downtime. Having a first aid kit and trained assistance can help minimize downtime by addressing minor injuries promptly, allowing employees to return to work more quickly.
{{Client Safety}}
Offices that host clients or visitors should also be prepared to handle emergencies involving them. A well-stocked first aid kit and trained personnel can come to the rescue if a client experiences a sudden health issue while on-site, leaving a positive impression of your organization’s preparedness and care.
{{ Enhances Team Cohesion}}
Training employees in first aid skills can foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration. They become not just coworkers but also safety allies, looking out for one another and taking pride in their ability to provide help when needed.
{{Peace of Mind }}
Knowing that help is readily available in case of an emergency provides peace of mind to both employees and clients. This can reduce stress and anxiety, enabling everyone to focus better on their tasks and interactions.
In an ideal scenario, every office should have a designated person or a team responsible for first aid and emergency response. However, at the very least, Human Resources personnel should be equipped with basic first aid skills and knowledge of emergency protocols. The cost of providing first aid training and maintaining a first aid kit is a small price to pay compared to the potential consequences of an unprepared workplace.
To sum it up, a well-prepared workplace that prioritizes safety and well-being not only complies with legal requirements but also reaps numerous benefits. From improved employee morale to reduced downtime, the presence of a first aid kit and skilled assistance in the office fosters a more productive and caring work environment. By investing in these simple yet crucial measures, every office can contribute to better yields at work while ensuring the safety and health of everyone involved.
The psychotropic substances with various brand names such as Umutuzo, Impamba and Isangano, were disposed of on Wednesday, October 25, at Nduba landfill in Gasabo District.
The illicit drinks packed in 3,550 boxes valued at Frw42.6 million, were seized recently during Police operations conducted in Kimironko, Kinyinya and Ndera in Gasabo District.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said that the substances belong to one person, who was operating an illegal distillery in Masoro, Ndera sector.
“About 2341 boxes of illicit brew were seized from an illegal production plant in Masoro, 1050 boxes in Kimironko where his vehicle was delivering the illicit drinks to clients, and 50 others in Kinyinya. He also had fake seals on the products,” SP Twajamahoro said.
RSB specifies that “only food grade processing aids recognized as safe for human consumption shall be used during the manufacture.”
RSB set standard requirements include labeling (name of the products, physical and postal address of manufacturer); net contents in milliliters or liters; ethyl alcohol content; date of manufacture and expiry date; storage instructions; statutory warnings; and list of ingredients in descending order, among others.
The product should have a standards mark also known as S-Mark.
All alcoholic drinks produced without complying with standards and other laws are classified as ‘simple narcotic drugs’ under article 5 of the Ministerial Order No.001/MoH/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorization.
Under article 263 of the law determining offences and penalties in general in Rwanda, anyone convicted for dealing in “simple narcotic drugs” faces between seven and ten years in prison and a fine of between Rwf5 million and Rwf10 million.
The airline confirmed the development via X account formerly Twitter on Wednesday 25th October 2023.
“Today, we took delivery of our 7th Boeing 737 aircraft as we continue to enhance our fleet,” reads the message posted on X.
RwandAir had announced the anticipated acquisition of the new aircraft in June this year.
At the time, Yvonne Manzi Makolo, the CEO of RwandAir, told IGIHE that the airline is actively exploring new routes, with a focus on African destinations as well as considering opportunities in Europe.
Makolo emphasized the airline’s commitment to expanding its fleet by stating, “We are actively considering the purchase of an additional aircraft. We have an upcoming delivery of a Boeing 737 in 2023. We are dedicated to augmenting our fleet size.”
In November 2022, RwandAir acquired its first freight aircraft.
The airline currently operates to a variety of destinations across East, Central, West, and Southern Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
