{{China has provided to Rwanda over US$35million in form of grants and interest free loan.}}
The agreement was signed on December 21 at the Rwanda Foreign Affairs Ministry offices.
Rwanda was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Louise Mushikiwabo and Ambassador Shu Zhan of China to Rwanda, on Chinese side.
The two countries have previously cooperated in areas of Health, Agriculture, Education and Infrastructure.
Ambassador Shu Zhan noted that these agreements of cooperation between the two countries reflect China’s continued strong relationship with Rwanda for technical cooperation.
“The signing of these agreements shows the level of cooperation we have with China, and is the sign that show that Rwanda depends not only on one country or continent but we are capable of looking everywhere and work with lots of cuntries.” Mushikiwabo says.
Photo: {L-R Tony NsanganiraActing COORDB (L) Clare Akamanzi Acting CEORDB (C) Vivian Kayitesi Head of Investment Promotion and Implementation}
{{In the context of global economic difficulty, Rwanda has managed to create its own opportunities in 2012 and attracted a significant amount of new investments.}}
The Rwanda Development Board has released year-ending results indicating that as of December 19th, 2012, Rwanda has registered US$1.10 billion.
During a press conference in which these statistics were revealed, the Rwanda Development Board Acting Chief Executive Officer, Clare Akamanzi stated that Investments registered in 2012 have so far reached a record $1.1 billion compared to this year’s annual target of $835m with Tourism, Energy and construction & Real Estate sectors attracting the largest level of investments.
“We expect 2012 to be the highest value of projects registered in a single year,’’ Akamanzi noted .
“These record investments have also created a total of over 20,578 jobs (11,522 more jobs than 2011) with the Mining, ICT and Services sectors contributing to the largest amount of job creation’’ added Akamanzi.
These results demonstrate that Rwanda’s ease of Doing Business is having a real impact. In 2012, RDB has pursued its journey toward rapid economic transformation by further implementing changes that brought about positive results.
Of great importance also to RDB is to ensure that the policies and reforms designed; provide the private sector with the best environment to grow, while catering for government’s interest.
Through the Rwanda Private Public Dialogue mechanism, efficient forums for discussion, resolving issues and policy advocacy representing the voice of all stakeholders concerned are provided.
As per EDPRS 2 strategy being developed, it is clear that all Ministries will be actively involved in promoting private sector investments in their respective area of interest, and therefore RDB will be working in even closer collaboration with all of them going forward.
RDB will also strengthen its core marketing function to increase investment proactive targeting in strategic sectors of interest (e.g. financial services, logistics, BPO and light weight manufacturing).
Looking ahead to 2013, RDB is aiming higher to a target of $1.3 billion.
Local and Foreign Investments: 2012 Local investments registered accounted for 49% of value, but 61% of number of projects, where foreign investments and JV also account for 51% of value, but only 39$% of number of projects.
Exports: By the end of October 2012, export receipts from different sectors stood at US$ 385 million compared to US $315 million from January to October in 2011 representing a 22% increase.
Tourism: Tourism is estimated to have generated US$210.5 million from January to September, 2012 compared to US$184.4 million generated in 2011 during the same period. This corresponds to an increase of 14%.
Small and Medium Enterprise Development: RDB has established over 30 Business Development Centers to offer Business Development services that improve performance of enterprises, their access to markets and ability to compete.
These offer services to SMEs such as training, coaching, consultancies, marketing, information, technology development and transfer and business linkages
Customer Care: A series of strategic activities were set in motion on customer care to ensure that the country addresses the challenges facing it as a result of poor customer care approaches.
A campaign, entitled Na Yombi, was initiated and over 2,029,000 adult Rwandans have been exposed to best practices on service delivery through communication activities, several trainings of trainers in private sector companies.
Investment registered: is the commitment of an investor who acquired an investment certificate at RDB in 2012.
It is therefore the value committed to be invested as well as the number of jobs to be created, over the period of the submitted business plan, which can be up to 5 years.
Out of a total of 181 projects registered in 2012, the top 10 investors account for 63% of total investments value of $1,100m.
Company Registration has also reached a record level in 2012 with 9031 companies registered as of December 19th, an increase of 42% from 2011.
This represents about 35 companies registered each working day, compared to 24 in 2011, and only 2 companies per day 10 years ago.
{{The Rwanda Utility Regulatory Agency (RURA) in conjuction with the National ID project have announced that all SIM Cards will be registered and details of their bearers synchronized.}}
Maj. Francois Regis Gatarayiha of RURA noted that all phone holders will have to register their SIM card numbers and provide their personal identification details.
All those sim cards unregistered will be blocked off air or will not function.
There are about 5million phone users in Rwanda all subscribed to three major telecommunication companies MTN, TIGO and Airtel.
The Free registration process will be conducted between February 4, 2013 upto July 31, 2013.
RURA notes that this will help the the fight against rising crime especially kidnapping, theft through mobile money transfer.
{{Police in Gasabo District, Gisozi Sector, Ruhango cell has arrested two men for allegedly assaulting a man whom they suspected to have broke into a shop and stole goods.}}
Abdallah Ntiyamira, 27 and one Damascene 33, were arrested for taking justice in their hands and assaulted John Barigira, 20 who has since been admitted at Kagugu health centre.
They are currently held at Gisozi Police station.
They are now facing charges of assault and battery as stipulated under article 148 of the penal code.
{{President Paul Kagame received 22 business students, Professor of Economics and one staff member from Stanford Graduate School of Management.}}
The students were recieved on December 21.
President Kagame thanked the students for their work to improve entrepreneurship in Rwanda and expressed his hope that this trip will benefit both Rwanda and the student.
The students, who are in Rwanda as part of the Stanford Social Innovation Study Trip, were given the opportunity to interact with the President on subjects ranging from Rwanda’s development, infrastructure and the President’s leadership legacy and Rwanda’s vision.
To explain the origins of Rwanda’s vision, President Kagame told the students:
“Africa has close to 1 billion people and enormous resources. The only thing missing is Africa substantially benefitting from this and owning it. The origins of our vision are about asking ourselves why are others developed and we are like this? Do we deserve it?
What can we do to change it and create a pathway for transformation? Our vision is about redefining ourselves and becoming who we should be.”
President Kagame concluded the interactive session with these words of advice to the students:
“Choose the life you want to lead, believe in yourself and remember that nothing will happen until you do it. Never be put off by challenges, always move up because that is where you belong.”
The “Social Innovation Study Trip” is supported by Stanford’s Center for Social Innovation and is one means by which business students can satisfy Stanford’s “Global Experience Requirement.”
The theme of the trip is “Rwanda: Paths to Prosperity”, and the focus is on better understanding the challenges and opportunities for economic development in low income countries.
The interest to Rwanda came from the fact that despite the 1994 Genocide, and other obstacles, Rwanda has transformed itself from a failed state into one of Africa’s fastest growing, most stable, and least corrupt countries in only two decades.
{{The Rwanda Stock Exchange Friday’s share index (RSI) slightly went up 0.41 points to close at 161.74 and mainly pushed by the rising Bralirwa share price which closed at Rwf 630.}}
The total turnover for the day was Rwf 44,992,000 from 273,400 BK shares and 15,000 Bralirwa shares traded in five deals compared to yesterday’s trading session which recorded a turnover of Rwf 852,024,900 from 6,581,700 BK shares and 4,700 Bralirwa shares traded in eight deals.
BK shares traded and closed at Rwf 130, unchanged from yesterday’s closing price whereas Bralirwa counter traded and closed at Rwf 630, registering an increase of Rwf 2 compared to yesterday’s closing price.
KCB shares last transacted at Rwf 160 while NMG shares last transacted at Rwf 1,200.
At the end of formal trading hours, there were outstanding bids of 420,000 BK shares at Rwf 129 and no outstanding offers.
On Bralirwa counter, there were outstanding bids of 63,400 shares between Rwf 610 and Rwf 628 and no outstanding offers.
This week the RSE market went down in turnover compared to last week’s trading session.
The total turnover for this week was Rwf 1,301,089,200 from 9,949,200 BK shares and 26,000 Bralirwa shares traded in 28 deals compared to last week’s trading session which recorded a turnover of Rwf 1,353,621,600 from 600,100 BK shares and 2,075,700 Bralirwa shares traded in 40 deals.
{{Antibiotics are ineffective in treating patients with persistent coughs caused by mild chest infections, the Lancet journal reports.}}
About 2,000 patients across 12 European countries filled in an ‘illness’ diary.
The study found that the severity and duration of symptoms in patients treated with antibiotics were no different to those given a placebo.
But experts caution that if pneumonia is suspected, antibiotics should still be used due to the disease’s severity.
Prof Paul Little from the University of Southampton, who led the research, said, “Using the antibiotic amoxicillin to treat respiratory infections in patients not suspected of having pneumonia is not likely to help and could be harmful.
Most mild chest infections will settle by themselves with no need for antibiotics – as mainly caused by viruses”
Dr Nick Hopkinson British Lung Foundatio
“Overuse of antibiotics, dominated by primary care prescribing, particularly when they are ineffective, can lead to the development of resistance and have side effects like diarrhoea, rash and vomiting.
“Our results show that people get better on their own. But given that a small number of patients will benefit from antibiotics the challenge remains to identify these individuals.”
Previous research into whether or not antibiotics are beneficial in the treatment of chest infections, where symptoms include shortness of breath, weakness, high fever, coughing and fatigue, have produced conflicting results- particularly in older people where chest infections can lead to further complications.
This study randomly divided patients into two groups – one received the antibiotic and the other was given a placebo, an inert treatment in the form of a sugar pill, three times a day for seven days.
The study found little difference in the severity and duration of symptoms reported between groups.
This was also true for older patients – those aged 60 years or over – who made up nearly a third of the study.
And those taking antibiotics were reported to have more side effects including nausea, rash and diarrhoea than those given the placebo.
Chest infections are one of the most common problems patients go to their GP about.
Dr Nick Hopkinson, a member of the British Lung Foundation, thought the study was helpful back-up when patients ask them for antibiotics.
He said: “Some patients with mild chest infections will ask for a prescription – this study can help GPs suggest it may not be the best thing for them.
“Most mild chest infections will settle by themselves with no need for antibiotics – as they are mainly caused by viruses. Those with mild infections are told to come back if symptoms don’t get better.
“This study is encouraging and supports what GPs are already doing.”
Overprescribing of antibiotics can lead to bacterial infection resistance.
Dr Michael Moore, from the Royal College of General Practitioners, who also co-authored the study, said, “It is important that GPs are clear when they should and should not prescribe antibiotics to patients to reduce the emergence of bacterial resistance in the community.
“This study backs the approach taken in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines that patients who present with acute lower respiratory tract infection where pneumonia is not suspected can be reassured by their GP that they will recover without antibiotics and that the illness is likely to last about three weeks in total whether or not they have a prescription.”
The European study, which included Belgium, England, France and Germany, took place between November 2007 and April 2010.
It looked at 2,061 patients who had a persistent cough lasting more than 28 days and where a chest infection, like bronchitis, was suspected.
Those thought to have pneumonia were excluded from the study due to the severity of the disease if not treated promptly.
Participants completed a daily diary for the duration of their illness and rated the severity of their symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and blocked.
{{Police in Nyanza District have arrested Gervais Nizeyimana 28 for allegedly killing his cousin brother Jean Claude Harindintwari, 43, using a machete.}}
The incident took place on December 19, after the two men quarreled in a bar at a nearby trading centre where they were sharing beer.
According to investigations, the suspect left the deceased in the bar and instead ambushed him on his way back home taking his breath instantly with a machete.
The suspect is currently held at Ntyazo police post.
Nizeyimana was also a wanted man for allegedly assaulting his wife. He is suspected to have been in the hiding in Ngoma District.
Supt. Hubert Gashagaza, the Southern Region Police Spokesperson confirmed the incident.
{{Rwanda Police has arrested a group of Congolese suspected to have robbed over US$1Million from a Congolese Bank in Goma. }}
The robbers crossed into Rwanda through a porous entry point after robbing the bank.
Police Spokesman, Theos Badege, said , “We managed to arrest some suspects between today (Thursday) and yesterday, as well an amount of money and we are still carrying out investigations to ensure that entire suspect ring is foiled.”
Earlier reports indicated that 3 Robbers attacked a vehicle taking money to the bank in Goma city in DRC and made away with £614,000 after a gun fight that claimed two lives.
