In November 2018, doTERRA attended the first CIIE without anticipating that this new platform on the other side of the Pacific would reshape its future. With an exhibition area of only 9 square meters, the company garnered a surprising 380 million yuan (about 53 million U.S. dollars).
Today, China has become the company’s second-largest market worldwide.
“We are like standing on the shoulders of giants to sell products,” said Owen Messick, president of doTERRA China, while recalling his company’s journey at the expo, which entered its sixth edition on Sunday.
To seize the enormous business opportunities brought by the annual expo, doTERRA has launched an essential oil product characterized by Chinese elements at every CIIE since 2019. The company has also established its first overseas R&D center in China.
These interactions with Dr. Biruta took place on Tuesday 7th November 2023 during his visit to the Netherlands, where he was invited by his counterpart, Hanke Gerdina Johannette Bruins Slot, with whom he held discussions.
Dr. Biruta also held meetings with envoys from various African countries based in the Netherlands to explore avenues for cooperation and integration of the African continent. They also discussed strategies for safeguarding Africa’s interests in The Hague City.
While addressing the Rwandan community in the Netherlands, Dr. Biruta provided an overview of Rwanda’s progress and the preparations for the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for 2024.
Claude Ndabarasa, the President of the Rwandan Community in the Netherlands, briefed Minister Biruta on the diverse activities undertaken by Rwandans in the country, such as celebrating national events, contributing to the embassy’s initiatives, and making investments in Rwanda.
He also touched upon their philanthropic efforts to aid Rwandans affected by disasters, especially in May 2023 when the country experienced devastating landslides that claimed the lives of 135 people.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Olivier Patrick Nduhungirehe, told IGIHE that Dr. Biruta emphasized the importance of Rwandans in the country continuing their role in nation-building.
He disclosed that Minister Biruta presented a comprehensive view of the country’s progress and the regional political landscape, emphasizing the need for Rwandans to contribute to national development.
These discussions provided an opportunity for Rwandans to ask questions and share their thoughts on various national programs of interest.
During his visit, Minister Biruta also engaged with officials from the Netherlands, including those from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, and the Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
This visit marked a significant milestone as it was the first of its kind since Dr. Biruta assumed the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs in November 2019. It also represented the first visit by a Rwandan Foreign Affairs Minister to the Netherlands since the Rwanda Day gathering held in the country in 2015.
The latter is owned by the Norrsken Foundation, a Swedish non-profit organization that supports and invests in entrepreneurs addressing global challenges, including poverty, famine, environmental issues, mental health, and discrimination.
Norrsken East Africa is situated on the former Ecole Belge premises in Kigali. By bringing together entrepreneurs, creatives, and corporate entities, Norrsken aims to foster business growth and networking opportunities for East Africa’s leading startups.
The inauguration ceremony, which took place on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, was attended by dignitaries, including the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire Musoni, Co-founder and CEO of Norrsken, Niklas Adalberth, and the Managing Director of Norrsken Kigali House, Pascal Murasira.
Commencing operations in 2021, Norrsken Kigali House presently offers co-working space for 1,200 young entrepreneurs with innovative tech startups. The hub has generated a remarkable $45 million in just two years.
The inauguration coincided with ‘Norrsken Africa Week 2023,’ an event aimed at accelerating Africa’s growing tech and startup ecosystem. Hosted at Norrsken House Kigali, the two-day event will focus on opportunities for investors and startups on the continent.
Pascal Murasira, the Managing Director of Norrsken House Kigali, highlighted the comprehensive support provided to entrepreneurs by Norrsken Kigali House, including cutting-edge infrastructure, networking opportunities, and facilitating initial investments. The hub has emerged as a catalyst, showcasing local startups to an international audience of investors, and it embodies an ecological consciousness in both its aesthetics and functionality.
State-of-the-art connectivity ensures users seamless access to technological resources, making it an ideal space for entrepreneurs to thrive.
Niklas Adalberth expressed his gratitude to President Kagame and the Rwandan government for their support in establishing Norrsken in the country. Norrsken’s total investment in Rwanda amounts to $20 million, part of a broader commitment of $250 million dedicated to Africa.
During his address, President Kagame invited investors to see Africa as a land of rich opportunities and untapped potential. He emphasized the importance of valuing not only the market but also the dynamic populations and societies of the continent, aligning with the vision of making Kigali an indispensable technological hub in Africa.
With the construction of a new facility, Norrsken Kigali House reaffirms its expansion ambitions.
This upcoming building, estimated at Rwf7 billion, commits to maintaining the organization’s environmental focus, with 30% of its area dedicated to greenery.
Emmanuel Rwibasira, the managing director of Rwandan agribusiness company Rusango Real, told Xinhua in a recent interview in the capital of Kigali that Rwandan exhibitors are showcasing their products on a wider platform with potential market expansion, “which is why the expo is important.”
The company grows chili on 360 hectares of land in different parts of Rwanda, with plans to increase the planting area next season. “We are expanding our farms and putting more effort into increasing chili production by working with our partner farmers. We are set to increase production with our sights set on exporting to the China market,” he said.
As the world’s first import-themed national-level expo, the sixth CIIE kicked off on Sunday in the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai, attracting participants and guests from 154 countries, regions and international organizations.
Rwibasira pointed out that the expo offers Rwandan farmers the opportunity to tap into the vast Chinese market for their chili exports, and also provides an excellent platform for showcasing products from developing countries to the world.
Rwibasira said the company wants people to know that Rwandan chili is unique with good taste because they do not use chemical fertilizers. “We use organic fertilizers, which give our chili a good taste.”
More than a dozen Rwandan exhibitors from various companies are participating in this year’s CIIE. They are showcasing a variety of Rwandan products, including coffee, tea, chili, and honey.
Rwanda and China signed a protocol in 2021 on the export of dried chili to facilitate bilateral trade.
The statement was made by the AU Peace and Security Council in a communique issued following its recent meeting on counter-terrorism in Africa.
“The council notes with deep concern sustained financing of terrorism activities, particularly the growing linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, illicit exploitation and trade of mineral and natural resource, as well as illicit financial flows with debilitating impact on the national economies of the member states,” the communique read.
It further expressed concern over the growing threat to peace, security and stability in Africa posed by the spread of terrorism and violent extremism throughout the continent, which is undermining the AU’s efforts to silence the guns in Africa by 2030.
It said peace and security threats in Africa are derailing the progress toward the realization of the aspirations of Africa’s development blueprint Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The council also “condemned in the strongest terms all acts of terrorism and violent extremism committed in the continent by whomsoever, wherever, which cannot be justified under whatever circumstances.”
It reiterated the determination of the AU to rid Africa of terrorism and violent extremism. It further called on all member states to refrain from inciting, instigating, organizing, facilitating, participating in financing or encouraging terrorist activities.
The council encouraged AU member countries to take necessary measures to ensure that their respective territories are not used as terrorist sanctuaries.
The Special Prosecutor’s Office in Ukraine’s central region is currently conducting an investigation into this incident. According to official statements, Chastyakov had returned home with birthday presents from his colleagues, which included six hand grenades of “Western” make.
Chastyakov’s son reportedly picked up one of these grenades, and when Chastyakov attempted to retrieve it from him, a tragic accident occurred as the major accidentally pulled the pin of the grenade, causing an explosion. This explosion resulted in Chastyakov’s immediate death, while his 13-year-old son suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized.
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, Maryana Reva, has revealed that the identity of the person who likely gifted the grenades to Major Chastyakov is known to authorities, although his name has not been disclosed. Reva mentioned that this individual did inform Chastyakov that the grenades were live, but the major apparently did not believe this warning. She characterized the incident as a result of careless handling of the ammunition, based on initial investigations and the collected evidence and testimonies.
Reva stated that interviews and evidence collection are ongoing as authorities continue to probe the incident. During a search of the person who allegedly gave Chastyakov the fatal gift, two similar grenades were found.
Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny confirmed the death of his “assistant and close friend” through a Telegram post, expressing deep sorrow over the loss.
He noted that Chastyakov’s death was particularly poignant as it occurred on his birthday and offered his condolences to Chastyakov’s family. Zaluzhny praised Chastyakov’s unwavering commitment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and his dedication to countering Russian aggression, especially during the full-scale invasion.
A brief statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Rwanda’s Presidency indicated that Kagame emphasized his view that the solution to the situation ‘is not a military one but a political one’.
During their discussion, President Kagame and UNSG António Guterres also discussed continued strong collaboration towards peace and stability in DRC through ongoing regional efforts.
On November 6, 2023, Kagame had a productive call with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during which various topics were discussed, including the deteriorating security conditions in eastern DR Congo.
On the same day, the M23 rebels claimed to have retaken strategic positions in eastern DRC Congo that they had previously ceded to the East African Regional Force (EACRF) due to the worsening security situation in the region.
This development occurred several months after the rebels had vacated these positions as part of the Luanda peace agreement, which aimed to facilitate a negotiated resolution to the conflict in the volatile area.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vincent Biruta, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed his disappointment and rejected the ongoing accusations made by representatives of the DR Congo government against Rwanda.
Dr. Biruta made these comments during a recent meeting of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) held in Yaoundé, Cameroon. He took the opportunity to voice his objections to accusations leveled against Rwanda by a representative of the DR Congo government at the same forum.
The Congolese military is currently engaged in combat alongside a coalition of local militia groups within their collective entity known as Wazalendo, as well as the FDLR, a terrorist organization comprised of Rwandans responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Rwanda’s Presidency, via an official account, disclosed that Kagame and Fatima engaged in discussions regarding the ongoing preparations for the 3rd United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC), scheduled to take place in Kigali in June 2024.
This marks the first time the conference will be held on the African continent. The conference is scheduled to run from June 18th to 22nd, with a primary focus on fostering partnerships among member countries for development. It also aims to establish mechanisms to facilitate innovations aimed at addressing barriers that hinder the development of member countries.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Girma, hosted by Kagame, conveyed a message on behalf of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia. However, specific details about their discussions were not disclosed. Girma Birru Geda is a prominent figure in Ethiopian politics, having previously served as the country’s ambassador to the United States and held key positions as the Minister of Trade and Industry, as well as the Minister of Economic Development and Cooperation in his home country.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali sent this envoy following his visit to Kigali in 2021, during which he held talks with President Kagame. In July, President Kagame also engaged in discussions with Ethiopia’s President, Sahle-Work Zewde.
Rwanda and Ethiopia maintain a strong and friendly relationship built on mutual respect and cooperation agreements designed to enhance the well-being of the people of both nations.
Police officers in different parts of the country engaged drivers of public vehicles, trucks, taxi-moto operators, as well as passengers and pedestrians, on road safety standards and behaviours.
The all-out campaign aims at driving road safety behaviours from abiding traffic rules as a law to making safety on the road a choice and ultimately a culture.
This time, the awareness is combined with operations against errant motorists.
At Nyabugogo bus terminal, ACP Boniface Rutikanga, the RNP spokesperson, reminded drivers to always exercise patience baring in mind that the road is shared by other motorists and pedestrians.
“Everyone, who uses the road should know that they are not using it alone, it is shared with others, so there should be ease between the drivers of big and small vehicles, and pedestrian rights should also be respected,” ACP Rutikanga told road users at Nyabugogo bus terminal, on Tuesday, November 7.
He added that this campaign combined with operations will continue to address the major causes of fatal accidents such as speeding, wrong overtaking, violating Zebra Crossing, use of phone, and drunk-driving, among other serious violations.
