The signing ceremony took place in Kigali on Wednesday between Finance and Economic Planning Minister, Amb. Claver Gatete and the Director General of AfDB in EAC, Gabriel Negatu .
A total of $171 million of the loan will go to water distribution and sanitation programmes while $84 million will go to skills and business development.
“On water programmes, the loan will be used in rehabilitation and expansion of water networks in Kigali City and the country’s secondary cities. Construction and rehabilitation of Nzove water treatment plant so that it can produce more 35,000m3 to meet Kigali demand,” said Minister Gatete.
“Also the loan will help construct the 2nd phase of Gihira II water treatment plant so that it wproduces 15,000m3 per day and rehabilitation of water networks in six secondary cities of Musanze, Rubavu, Nyagatare, Huye and Rusizi,” Gatete added.
A total of 1.1million people will benefit from clean water as 475,000 people will benefit from sanitation programmes.
Chief Executive Officer for Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC), Aimé Muzola, said that the deal is in line with Rwanda’s target to achieve 100% clean water access by 2024.
“The funds will be used in constructing water networks because in most parts, network connections are outdated and in some areas, cities have been expanded and the level of supply do not satisfy consumers,” Muzola said adding that the most populated areas will be prioritized.
{{Industries development
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Trade and Industry Minister, Vincent Munyeshyaka said that there is an area that will be developed for Made in Rwanda with the target to empower local companies to be able to compete internationally.
“When you see the vision of industry development in Rwanda, it requires Rwandans to have particular technologies and skills to produce different products,” he said
AfDB’s Negatu said that he is optimistic that the loan will contribute to the improvement of lives of Rwandans. He said the attained development in the country was not from donation, but it is from good resources management.
“President Kagame meets with Antonio Gueterres, United Nations Secretary General on the sidelines of the 5th AU-EU Summit 2017 in Abidjan,” reads the tweet of the office of the president.
Kagame is in Abidjan, Ivory Coast where he is attending the 5th African Union-European Union (AU-EU) Summit.
The two day summit which started this Wednesday is being conducted under the theme ‘Investing in youth for a sustainable future’
2017 is a defining year for AU-EU relations as it has been ten years since the adoption of the Joint Africa-EU strategy.
The 11th iCPAR CPA and CAT examinations are being conducted from 27th November to 1st December 2017 at two different centers: Kigali Independent University (ULK) and Huye Campus of the University of Rwanda (UR).
A total of 1336 candidates are registered for December examinations where 911 candidates registered to sit for CPA examinations while 425 candidates registered to sit for CAT examinations in December 2017.
As the Professional Accountancy Organization mandated by law to regulate the Accounting profession in Rwanda with one of its mandate to organize and conduct relevant examinations, iCPAR aims at producing a critical mass of qualified professional accountants for Rwanda Market and the region.
The Institute is committed to produce critically a mass of qualified accountants needed by the Rwandan economy and filling the existing gap as identified by numerous needs assessments like the 2015 ROSC A&A, among others.
Currently a total of 19 candidates completed CPA – Rwanda qualification while 31 candidates completed the CAT -Rwanda qualification.
Quality accountants are at the heart of the development of Capital Markets, you need reliable and credible financial information to build investor confidence, enhance economic development and increase attractiveness of a country’s investment climate thereby encouraging inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI) and general business development.
Therefore, It is important for the public and private sector in Rwanda to realize the importance of hiring professional accountants who are registered and hence regulated and have this as a prerequisite to being considered for employment.
ICPAR is also a member of the Panafrican Federation of Accountants (PAFA) and Associate member of the International Federation of Accounting (IFAC).
Upon Kagame’s arrival in Abidjan, Ivory Coast at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny airport he was received by President Alassane Ouattara, reads Office of the President’s Tweet.
This year’s summit is being conducted under the theme ‘Investing in youth for a sustainable future’.
African and European Heads of State and Government gather for the summit including the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk; the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker; the President of the African Union, IdrissDéby and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, MoussaFaki.
2017 is a defining year for AU-EU relations as it has been ten years since the adoption of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy.
Taking stock of the progress made since the Brussels Summit in 2014, African and European Leaders will be given the opportunity to provide guidance in order to jointly address current and future challenges and to deepen their strategic partnership, launched in 2007 with the adoption of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy.
Swedish ambassador Jenny Ohlsson has been in Rwanda in 2007 to 2009 as Swedish political diplomat. She returned in Rwanda in 2016 as an Ambassador with residence in Kigali. Her predecessors had their residences in Nairobi, Kenya.
As both countries celebrate 20 years of cooperation and partnership, IGIHE talked to the Ambassador on diplomatic ties between both countries.
{{Excerpts below;}}
{{ IGIHE: It’s been a year since you presented your credentials as first Resident Swedish ambassador to Kigali; how do you see the country so far and how do you feel with living here? }}
{{J.O:}} First of all, I feel at home because it is the second time to live in Rwanda and I really enjoyed living here due to the atmosphere of hope and possibility. Also, when I came here for the second time, I could see the progress that had taken place and it’s a nice feeling to live somewhere where things are going in the right direction.
Personally, I am happy that my family is here; I got pregnant with my first son in Rwanda. It is very special to bring him back in Rwanda.
{{As you noted, Rwanda has and is still developing; what is your point of view on what caused such a change in the last twenty years?}}
The Leadership has played an important part in Rwanda’s progress but also I’d like to give credit to the Rwandans for the development that has taken place. Both contributed to where Rwanda has reached now.
{{Tell us more about the evolution of your diplomacy in Rwanda since 1997
}}
In 1997, it was absolutely new for us to come to Rwanda. There had been some relations between Pentecostal churches from both countries but there were no diplomatic ties. Everything had to start from scratch. We didn’t know what was Rwanda? What was their culture? We started with a lot humanitarian support in the first years, we also started with budget support from 1999, and then step by step wi started cooperation with police, decentralization structure, university, institution building….
First there was one person, she rented a room in Novotel, she hired a driver and it grew from there, one woman, one backpack one driver and then we had something called embassy office which is not a really embassy and now finally we have an embassy with an ambassador which is a great thing.
And I must tell you that we don’t have embassies in all countries in Africa for us this is a big thing I think I am the fifteenth ambassador we have in Africa.
{{What are your cooperation and partnership plans in this second mandate of President Kagame?}}
I am quite sure we will continue with our development cooperation with Rwanda, but I think and I hope that it will shift a little to other kinds of cooperation like political, trade-related businesses, peacekeeping and so forth. I think Rwanda is moving very fast; there are a lot of global issues where we can cooperate and bring a great contribution to all. In short, I hope that our relations will be broader in the next coming years.
{{Economically speaking, where do you see Rwanda in 2024?}}
I’m not an economist but I am sure that in 2024, Rwanda will have developed more; probably, as it’ll be the last year of President Kagame’s mandate, I think there shall be a feeling of transition. And as I know Rwanda, the country will be well-prepared for that transition, so I’m not worried at all for that time, I’d even say that I’m optimistic and positive that Rwanda will be on a greater level.
{{What are your cooperation projects and plans with Rwanda? }}
We will continue in developing cooperation with Rwanda, but I think and I hope that it will be shifting a little bit to cooperation, political, trade, business and peace keeping. I think Rwanda is moving very fast, there is lot of global issues where we could cooperate like climate change, I hope for the next seven years, we will continue with the development cooperation but our relationship will be broader.
{{Rwanda and Sweden will soon celebrate 20 years of cooperation and partnership; what do you plan for such a great event? }}
We will have the event on the 5th December, and for this year we wanted to focus on the role of a father and gender equality in society; Hence, this is to why we decided to hold an exhibition dubbed Swedish Dads and we also started out an interesting Instagram Photo challenge dubbed “RwanDads” that will be honoring our anniversary and the winner shall be awarded officially on the 5th December.
After the discussion between both heads of states, Netanyahu wrote on his twitter handle that they agreed to open Israel’s embassy in Rwanda.
” With Rwandan President Paul Kagame today. I informed him that Israel will open, for the 1st time, an embassy in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. This historic step comes as Israel is expanding its presence in Africa and deepening its cooperation with countries across the continent,” tweet reads.
The embassy is set to further deepen diplomatic relations and cooperation between the two nations.
The two nations have enjoyed warm bilateral ties over the years with their cooperation touching various developmental and diplomatic aspects. These include agriculture, technology and innovation, business among others.
Rwanda’s embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel was established in 2015. The Israeli embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is the one covering Rwanda so far.
As Kenyatta took oath of office for his second term in office, Kagame said Kenyans deserved Kenyatta’s victory.
“People of Kenya, I have come to congratulate you, congratulations! The people of Rwanda send you their greetings and congratulations for your well-deserved election victory. Congratulations!,” reads the office of the President’s tweet.
Kenyatta is going to serve his second and last term that will end in 2012.
Kagame is among ten heads of states that attended the ceremony including Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Ian Khama of Botswana, John Pombe Magufuli of Tanzania, Edgar Lungu of Zambia, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Hage Geingob of Namibia, Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, Mohamed Farmajo wa Somalia, and Ethiopia Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn.
According to the Director General in charge of Trade at MINICOM Robert Opirah, women have been grouped in cooperatives and reduced informal trade which raised taxes that the country earns from their businesses.
Opirah was speaking Monday in a conference that brought together countries that share borders with Rwanda. The conference intended to assess challenges cross-border women traders face and measures to solve them.
“Cross-border business is being done by a big number of women, Rwanda earns over $170 million from them every year,” he explained.
He said that in a need to promote such businesses, the government of Rwanda has constructed three cross-border markets in Cyanika, Burera District; Kanyaru, Huye District and in Karongi District.
According to Opirah, they target to construct more markets on the borders of Rusumo, Kagitumba, Gatuna, Rusizi I&II and Nemba Border in Bugesera.
Speaking in the conference, the advisor to the minister in theDemocratic Republic of Congo’s Trade Ministry, Solange Umulisa said that unawareness in women engaged in the business is still a big challenge to their country.
“They are unaware of border posts services. Most of the time both countries sign agreements that seeks to promote their businesses but you find that they are unaware of them,” she said
She said that they will continue to explain more about Border Posts services so that they will continue to develop their businesses.
Though cross-border businesses among women on Rwanda’s side are commendable, the Executive Secretary of Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe, an umbrella of Rwandan civil society organizations aiming at advancement of women status, peace building and sustainable development, Emma MarieBugingo said that women in the business still face some challenges.
“They claim disproportions of hours these border posts operate. Take an example, Rwanda can operate 24 hours but other countries may not be on the dot,” Bugingo said.
Innovation and creativity knows no boundaries, and that has never been more evident than in this year’s Smart Service Awards winners.
The Best News Publishing Website award recognize publishing websites that have created ground-breaking digital products that engage readers while increasing online business.
IGIHE came at the top of all the other publishing websites with 37.7% of votes from the Public. IGIHE is considered by most, as perhaps one of the best digital display for news in Rwanda.
The awards were handed during a function held at Park Inn Hotel venue on 25th November. Among the different winners recognized were Bank of Kigali as the best Twitter Brand, SORAS as the Best Insurance Company, TV 1 as the Best TV Station, among others.
Smart Service Awards, which are now in their second year, focus on showcasing the hard work and commitment of the many businesses, departments and individuals across the country, who not only keep clients’ wishes at the top of their game, but also are innovation-driven and potentially, changes the environment all for the better.
The 2017 Awards covered about 30 sub-categories aligned to the tech/digital expertise areas: Social Media, hospitality, Customer care, Digital Technology, Media, Marketing and academics among others.
{{List of the 2017 edition of the prestigious “Smart Service Awards” winners.}}
{{Best Employment Web:}} Job In Rwanda
{{Best Online Shopping Website:}} Groce Wheels
{{Best Hub/Lab:}} Fab Lab
{{Best Radio Station: }} City Radio
{{Best Tech Company:}} BK Tech House
{{Best Mobile Application:}} U Plus
{{Best Technology Institution:}} UTB
{{Twitter Brand:}} Bank of Kigali
{{Facebook Brand:}} Itel
{{Best Bar and Restaurant:}} Just Chill
{{Best Airline:}} Ethiopian Airlines
{{Best Magazine/Journal Online}}: Hope Magazine
{{Best TV Station:}} TV 1
{{Media Personality}}: George Ndirangu
{{Best Financial Institution:}} BK Tech House
{{Best Insurance Company:}} SORAS
{{Best Internet Service Provider:}} Axiom
{{Best Fashion House: }} Kabash Fashion House
{{Best News Publishing Website:}} IGIHE
{{Best Travel Agency:}} Satguru Travels
{{Best Innovation}}: Yego Motos
{{Best Public Institution}}: Immigration
{{Best Telecommunication Company}}: Korean Telecom
{{Miss Social Media:}} Miss Uwase Honorine (Igisabo)
“President Kagame arrives in Kenya to attend President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta’s Inauguration ceremony,” reads Office of the President’s tweet.
Recently, the government of Kenya announced that 11 heads of states will attend the ceremony.
Foreign Affairs Minister of Kenya said that 13 presidents will delegate their vice-presidents, special envoy or ministers.
Other heads of states who will attend include, Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Ian Khama of Botswana, John Pombe Magufuli of Tanzania, Edgar Lungu of Zambia, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Hage Geingob of Namibia, Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, Mohamed Farmajo wa Somalia, and Ethiopia Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn.
Senegal, China and Japan will delegate special envoys whereas South Africa, United Kingdom, Ukraine and India will delegate ministers.
President Kenyatta and his Vice-president William Ruto will be swearing in for their second term following the re-run elections win of 26th October 2017.
