The inaugural summit scheduled for 4-5 June will draw delegations from African countries and related international organizations, key figures from Korean and international business communities, academia, civil society groups, and the press, among others.
The summit, themed ‘The future we make together: Shared growth, sustainability, and solidarity,’ will be hosted by the Korean government. It will be co-chaired by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Mauritanian counterpart, Mohamed El Ghazouani, who is also the African Union Chairman.
According to the organizers, the summit marks Korea and Africa’s strong commitment to enhancing their cooperation.
The summit aims to explore cooperative strategies to foster collective resilience and unity for sustainable development. It will prioritize addressing global issues such as climate change, food security, supply chain stability, and health security.
The Summit will feature a session for the heads of state and international organizations and a series of conference sessions across a wide range of topics, including business, agriculture, ICT, forestry and desertification, vaccine and health security, tourism and energy.
When she presented her letters of credence to President Paul Kagame on March 26, the High Commissioner committed to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries as well as helping Kenya retain its position as one of Rwanda’s top three trade partners.
Notably, Kenya exports foodstuffs, beverages, pharmaceutical products, cement, iron, and skin products to Rwanda, while Rwanda exports coffee, tea, horticultural foods, and raw hides and skins to Kenya. Kenya is also the main route for Rwanda’s exports and imports through the Port of Mombasa.
In an exclusive interview with IGIHE, the Rwandan ambassador discusses, among others, her efforts to strengthen ties between Kenya and Rwanda, ongoing economic and social cooperation, and the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which poses a significant security threat to the Great Lakes region.
{{You have been in Rwanda for a few months now. How has your experience been so far?}}
Before my posting here, I had not been to Rwanda, but I had heard a lot about Rwanda. Rwanda is one of the countries that Kenyans speak a lot about. I was really looking forward to coming to Rwanda, and when I got this posting, I was quite excited.
Having landed in Rwanda, the first thing that struck me was the reception that Rwanda gave me as a Kenyan ambassador. It was very warm, and that spoke to the relationship that Rwanda has had with Kenya ever since they began bilateral relations. I had a very warm welcome here. Very cordial relations between Kenya and Rwanda are evident because, although I have been here for a short period, we have hosted quite a number of high-level dignitaries.
We have had Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) here in a span of two to three months. We had the CS for Sports, who came to attend the late Gervais Hakizimana’s burial. We had our CS for Transport, and then we had our Deputy President attending Kwibuka, representing our President. Then, just last week, we had our Head of State attending the CEO forum. That just shows how cordial we are with Rwanda. That is one of the areas that really impresses me as a new High Commissioner here.
Another thing I must say about Rwanda is it has beautiful and receptive people. We share a lot in terms of traditions, culture, and customs. When they speak Kinyarwanda, I understand it, being Bantu. We have a shared history and customs that make it very easy for a Kenyan to assimilate in Rwanda.
I will not finish this without talking about how organized Kigali is. I have not yet been able to move to other parts of Rwanda. I intend to do that within a short period of time, but I can speak about Kigali. The infrastructure is just amazing, with a very organized way of doing things. It has been a great experience.
{{Did you ever envision being an ambassador?}}
Not at all, actually. It was a surprise, but it’s something that I received with a lot of gratitude. I’ve worked with UNON and UNEP before, so I am not completely new to bilateral and international relations. That background gives me a good backdrop to deliver on this posting. It was a very exciting appointment, and what better country than Rwanda?
{{Kenya and Rwanda enjoy strong bilateral relations. What will be your key priorities in strengthening this partnership?}}
My main priority is to strengthen the already existing very good relations. My second priority would be trade and investment. We have many Kenyan companies doing business here, and there is a lot of trade between Rwanda and Kenya that I would love to see strengthened. Of great importance is the Northern Corridor, with Rwanda being a strategic country for Kenya that I want to see strengthened.
We have had a couple of engagements. Just last week, Kenya Pipeline and Kenya Ports Authority paid us a courtesy visit, and we had quite a number of engagements with the Rwandan authorities in the Ministry of Trade to see how we can enhance our use of the Northern Corridor. We also had MoUs signed when the President came here last year in April for a state visit, invited by His Excellency Paul Kagame. A few have been implemented, while others are still awaiting a mid-term review sometime in June. It’s very important for me to see that the MoUs are implemented and to take care of our large diaspora presence. We have about 8,000 Kenyans living in Rwanda, and I want to ensure that their concerns are addressed.
{{During President Ruto’s visit to Rwanda in April last year, Kenya and Rwanda signed 10 MoUs aimed at enhancing cooperation in several areas, including education, ICT, health, gender and child development, youth and capacity development for the public service, as well as correctional services. What is the progress in the implementation of the agreements?}}
We have two of them actualized. We have a couple going for midterm review, and we are in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here. We are looking at June to fast track implementation, with a few still waiting for signatures. We are actively working to push the MoUs to fruition.
{{Early May, Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen met with his counterparts from Uganda, DRC, South Sudan, and Rwanda to discuss plans to extend the railway network to these four countries. Previous plans to extend the railway network to Uganda faced financial challenges. For someone hearing this for the first time, how is the new plan different?}}
What they agreed upon is that Kenya is going to work together with Uganda to build a railway from Naivasha, where it has currently reached, to Kisumu and Malaba. I am aware that Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya are collaborating to finance the railway network.
If actualized, Rwanda will pay less for products. Using the SGR has been a challenging area for them because their products come to Naivasha, where they have to store them and then use the road. So, they end up paying twice: once for the road and once for the SGR. This will be a win for both Kenya and Rwanda once actualized.
{{Instability in the eastern DRC poses a significant security threat to the Great Lakes region. President Ruto said recently that dialogue is the only solution to the problem in Congo. Beyond the TV remarks, what are some of the steps Kenya has taken to ensure there is peace in the region?}}
We already have the Nairobi-led peace process for the DRC and the Luanda process. We are depending heavily on those two processes to deliver a solution. He [President William Ruto] is very committed to both processes.
The entry program is designed to empower African start-ups for cross-border growth.
“This program offers a unique opportunity for startups to navigate diverse ecosystems, form strategic partnerships, and scale their businesses across the continent,” the organisation announced.
To be eligible for selection, interested start-ups must be registered in an African country, with at least one of the founders being an African. The start-ups should also be at the scale-up stage.
Successful applicants will enjoy several benefits. They will be among 10 startups to pitch in front of key ecosystem players and potential investors. Additionally, they will receive travel arrangements, participate in ecosystem tours, and engage in one-on-one meetings with potential customers, collaborators, and investors.
The startups will benefit from six months of post-trip support to strengthen the connections made during ecosystem tours, including advisory services on the target market. They will also experience tailored ecosystem tours in one of the focus countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, or Namibia.
Moreover, they will have access to Market Opportunity Packs (MOP), which provide insights into the countries they will visit and have the opportunity to showcase their products to a curated audience of collaborators, investors, and potential customers.
Interested applicants have until June 30, 2024, to apply. The selection exercise is slated for July 2024.
Pitch sessions will begin in August, ecosystem tours in October, and post-ecosystem tour support will take place between November and April 2025.
Interested startups can apply to join the program using the link: [http://bit.ly/LetsBuildAfrica
->http://bit.ly/LetsBuildAfrica]
The three-day event provides a platform for African startups and businesses to showcase their ideas and products to a worldwide audience, attracting investors seeking promising tech ventures in Africa.
Speaking to IGIHE, Nigerian investor Uchenna Ugbor termed his experience at the second edition of Gitex Africa as “very good”.
The founder of Ark Technologies Group attended the first edition of Gitex Africa, which made its debut on the continent in Morocco on May 31, 2023. He stated that he was able to invest in several projects and looks forward to a similar experience this year.
“I can’t count the number of stands I have visited. This is my second time. I was here last year and it’s not a disappointment at all. By and large, the event is very good, it has a lot to offer. I have quite a number of suppliers that are here. I have come all the way from Nigeria. Last year I met a couple of guys that I invested in their projects,” Ugbor stated.
According to Ugbor, the African continent has made great strides in innovation, and such efforts deserve applause.
“Given where we are coming from as Africans, I would [African startups] are impressive,” he commented. “The [business] is sustainable because 20 or 30 years ago, we weren’t at this stage, and we cannot compare ourselves with Europeans. It has to be a special case for people like Africans, who are a bit late entrants.”
Isaac Odongo, the CEO of Organic Route, was also upbeat about his experience in Morocco, where his company is showcasing their hybrid technology used to extend the shelf life of dried fruits and vegetables such as bananas.
Extolling the benefits of technology in the 21st century, Odongo said, “We also use tech to reach our customers and manage our finances.”
Liberia’s Minister for Posts and Telecommunications, Sekou Kromah, affirmed that such events offer fertile ground for policymakers to network and make better decisions in their roles.
“I am very happy to be here. It’s very exciting. This event normally helps us as policymakers to network and make sound decisions in terms of telecommunications and ICT,” the minister explained.
MOHE BioTech (Suisse), a company involved in the development of rapid diagnostic tests and an application that allows for quick health assessments and data collection in remote areas, told IGIHE that they had received “some pretty good feedback” from the participants.
“We created a platform that allows its users to know their health status whenever, wherever they are, anytime, while you just have the platform. If you are feeling sick, basically, instead of going all the way to the doctor to be diagnosed, you can do it yourself,” Marc Okambawa, the company’s marketing executive, said.
Okambawa added that their rapid test device can detect up to 12 diseases at a time, and thereafter the results are picked up by a medical practitioner who reaches out to the patient for further medical action.
Also present at the Morocco expo is Africa Smart Health, a company that offers a centralized platform for patients and doctors to keep their medical data. The platform can be accessed from any part of the world.
A user simply sets up a profile, enters all their medical conditions such as allergies, and shares them with their preferred medical professional to write a prescription. For doctors, there is a profile dubbed digital PA where they can manage all appointments and use AI to write medical reports very quickly using prefilled keywords.
The company works with local authorities to get relevant approvals for managing data such as doctor’s records. They also ask for consent from users during registration.
The students and some leaders from the Wharton School of Business are in Rwanda to study a course on conflict, governance, and transformation.
The President’s Office, Village Urugwiro, announced that on May 30, 2024, President Kagame received these students from the Wharton School of Business, led by the Deputy Director of the Wharton School’s Transformation Program, Professor Katherine Klein, and a member of the Wharton School’s Executive Board for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, Eric Kacou.
“This group is studying the international perspective on Rwanda for the 10th time, focusing on ‘conflict, governance, and transformation: lessons learned from Rwanda.’”
In 2023, some students from this school also visited Rwanda and were received by the President in his office.
At that time, President Kagame had discussed Rwanda’s development journey and reconstruction over the past 25 years.
Wharton School of Business is one of the world’s leading schools for finance and business education.
The assisted cooperative, Covmb from Burera District, faced significant losses due to heavy rains followed by intense sunshine, which led to substantial crop damage. Since the farmers had insurance coverage with BK Insurance, they were compensated with over RWF 17 million.
The president of Covemb Cooperative, Théobald Ndacyayisenga, stated that after losing potato crops spanning 195 hectares, they were initially hopeless but were later encouraged by the insurance they had taken.
He said, “Insuring agriculture is a solution because when you face unexpected losses, you get compensated. Another benefit is that whatever little that is salvaged from the farm still belongs to us. We are no longer in losses because we were assisted.”
Jean de Dieu Niyonzima, a potato farmer from Musanze District, added, “I joined the insurance program with BK Insurance, and when heavy rains destroyed my potatoes, they compensated me.”
Appollinaire Karegeya, the director of SPF, which will work with the farmers, mentioned that the initiative to support potato farming through insurance is a solution for those in this sector, urging them to take advantage of this profitable profession.
He said, “This insurance for potato seeds, sponsored by BK Insurance, comes at the right time. Previously, farmers would face disasters and lose their crops without any recourse, but now seeds bought here must be insured without any issues.”
Alexis Bahizi, the CEO of BK Insurance, said they chose to partner with SPF because they provide quality and reliable potato seeds to farmers.
He explained, “SPF ensures quality seeds, and we decided to collaborate with them so that every seed purchased by a farmer is insured. This will speed up adoption and ensure a smooth process, as the seeds are of high quality and reliable. If a disaster strikes, the farmer is insured and compensated, avoiding total loss.”
The Musanze District administration indicated that it would increase awareness among potato farmers to encourage them to get insurance, as it promotes both individual prosperity and national development.
Dr. Olivier Kamana, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, urged potato farmers to seek quality seeds and insure their crops.
He said, “We urge farmers to use reliable, certified seeds that have been researched. We are launching a system where farmers can pre-order seeds, and seed producers can know the types and quantities needed for cultivation.”
The two companies entered the new partnership on Thursday, May 30, during the Gitex Africa 2024 tech expo, which is ongoing in Marrakesh, Morocco.
The partnership with Microsoft will complement Zindi’s practical skilling with courses and certifications in AI, data science, and data analysis, Celina Lee, co-founder and CEO of Zindi, told IGIHE at the forum.
“With this partnership, we’ll be upskilling 10,000 people across Africa in data and AI skills,” Lee stated.
Microsoft Africa President, Lillian Barnard, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, saying the company’s goal is to ensure that AI is developed and used in ways that benefit all Africans.
“Bridging the digital skills gap in Africa is vital to the future success of that endeavour. By partnering with Zindi, we aim to revolutionise AI skills on the continent, providing cutting-edge AI training and certifications to thousands of developers and future data engineers, preparing the future workers of the world,” Barnard said.
Zindi is Africa’s largest platform for data scientists and AI and machine learning developers.
According to CEO Lee, more than 70,000 people have registered on the platform, mostly young people.
“About half of them are students, all learning data science and AI skills,” the CEO revealed.
Through the platform, data scientists participate in machine learning and data science competitions to win prizes and enhance their reputations, access real-world problems to develop their skills, and explore opportunities posted by Zindi partners. On the other hand, the platform helps companies find top talent to solve their problems.
“We run competitions where companies can put up datasets and problems, and then the community of data scientists, thousands of them, try to build solutions for these real business problems. This means that businesses get access to incredible talent.
“For the young people on the platform, it means they are building real skills that the market demands. For us, we see ourselves as a professional network where data scientists can build up their profiles and skills. More than a professional network, they can showcase what they’re capable of and connect with job opportunities,” the CEO explained.
He made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum at Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on May 30, 2024.
As he delivered remarks, President Xi highlighted the historical ties and ongoing partnership between China and Arab nations, rooted in the ancient Silk Road and shared struggles for national development.
“The friendship between the Chinese and Arab peoples is deeply rooted in our friendly exchanges along the ancient Silk Road, in our joint struggles for national liberation, and in our win-win cooperation in promoting national development,” he stated.
Reflecting on the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, President Xi reiterated China’s steadfast support for the establishment of an independent State of Palestine “that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
“War should not continue indefinitely. Justice should not be absent forever. Commitment to the two-state solution should not waver at will,” he asserted.
In a significant move, he announced additional financial support to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “On top of the previous RMB 100 million yuan of emergency humanitarian assistance, China will provide an additional RMB 500 million yuan [approximately US$70 million] of assistance to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction,” President Xi declared.
President Xi further committed to donating US$3 million to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
The Israel-Palestine conflict resurfaced last year after Hamas attacks on October 7 killed about 1,200 Israelis. Despite over 70 years of unresolved conflict and more than 130 UN resolutions, the war has reignited international divisions. China and Arab states support Palestinians, while Israel faces growing criticism, especially after striking Rafah in southern Gaza. On Monday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported the death toll from Israeli attacks since last October has reached 36,050.
The opening ceremony of the ministerial conference saw the participation of Arab leaders, including King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Egyptian President Abdul Fatah El-Sisi, Tunisian President Kais Saied, President Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, and Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit of the League of Arab States.
The leaders reaffirmed their stance on legitimizing Palestinian rights and establishing an independent Palestinian state. They also called for continued efforts to coordinate for lasting peace.
Among others, President Xi highlighted broader themes of cooperation and a shared future between China and Arab states. He shed light on the progress made since the first China-Arab States Summit in 2022 and announced plans for the second summit in China in 2026.
“China is satisfied with the progress we have made in delivering on the Summit’s outcomes. It will work with the Arab side to enhance the role of the Summit in providing strategic guidance for continued leapfrog growth of China-Arab relations,” he said.
Emphasizing mutual respect and shared goals, President Xi outlined five cooperation frameworks to build a China-Arab community with a shared future. These frameworks include innovation, investment and finance, energy cooperation, economic and trade ties, and people-to-people exchanges.
“Building a China-Arab community with a shared future is a strong statement of our common desire for a new era of China-Arab relations and a better future for the world,” he remarked.
President Xi also addressed the importance of global governance and multipolarity.
“The entire humanity shares one common future, which has become an inevitable trend. But deficits in governance, trust, peace, and development are getting wider. This calls on us to improve global governance under the principle of ‘planning together, building together, and benefiting together,’” he stated, expressing China’s readiness to work with Arab nations to champion an equal and inclusive global order.
Spiro was named alongside giant car manufacturers Toyota and BMW in the coveted list unveiled on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
Other renowned firms on the list include Microsoft, Google, Rappi, Huawei, Amazon, Airbus, Tata Group, OpenAI, Pfizer, and Bank of America.
Kenya’s asset financing platform M-Kopa and Food4Education, which supplies subsidized nutritious meals to primary school children, also made the list.
The Time 100 Most Influential Companies list celebrates businesses making extraordinary contributions in their fields, shaping the future of industries and society.
{{Spiro}}
Founded in 2019, Spiro launched in Togo and Benin in 2022, followed by Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, last year.
In Uganda, the e-bike and battery swapping provider has partnered with the government to replace its emission-heavy moto taxi fleet, known as boda-bodas, with electric two-wheelers.
Spiro bets on commuters’ needs in populous African cities to double its fleet of 14,000 electric bikes by the end of 2024.
Commenting on the Time’s recognition, Kaushik Burman, CEO of Spiro, said, “This recognition for Spiro in the Time 100 list is humbling and will catalyze our efforts to demonstrate our ability to innovate and deploy affordable mobility to customers, thereby fostering financial inclusion and empowering the lives of our customers and communities.”
Anish Jain, Group CEO of Equitane, Spiro’s holding company, added, “This accolade underscores the innovative work we are doing in Africa and beyond. We are committed to expanding our services and infrastructure to support the growing demand for sustainable transportation options.”
This is the revolutionary concept behind Canon’s “World Unseen” project. Going beyond the traditional frame of a photograph, “World Unseen” employs innovative techniques to create an inclusive experience of photography, particularly for visually impaired individuals.
In their very first exhibition in Africa, Canon Central and North Africa brought this campaign closer to home at GITEX Africa 2024, the largest three-day technology and startup event in Africa, ongoing in Marrakech, Morocco.
{{How the technology works
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The technology behind elevated prints, bringing the power of imaging to everyone, includes the Arizona 2300 FLXflow using PRISMAelevate XL software. Thanks to the elevated print, people can feel the different elements of the scenes through shapes, highlighted areas, and textures, allowing them to visualize the images through touch.
At the Canon booth in Marrakech, delegates, both visually impaired and sighted, were able to have multi-sensory experiences connecting them with powerful images and the stories behind them through audio descriptions, soundscapes, and braille.
The exhibition featured a series of photographs taken by world-renowned photographers including multi-award-winning South African photojournalist Brent Stirton, renowned Brazilian Photojournalist Sebastião Salgado, Nigerian photojournalist Yagazie Emezi, sports photographer Samo Vidic, fashion photographer Heidi Rondak and Pulitzer winning photojournalist Muhammed Muheisen.
Hamid Nabil was among the individuals who had the opportunity to experience the power of this innovative technology aimed at fostering inclusivity and deeper appreciation for diverse perspectives.
Visually impaired, Nabil was Morocco’s first visually impaired student to graduate with a doctorate degree in English Studies from Rabat’s Mohammed V University.
Rashad Ghani, the B2C Director for Canon Central and North Africa, said the new innovative project is part of the renowned Japanese imagery brand’s commitment to contributing to a more inclusive society.
“It is Canon’s philosophy of Kyosei, you know, working and living together for the common good. That’s how Canon is. Canon is not only a brand that creates something for, you know, a product to do business. They always look at society and something to enhance in the society.
“Being an imagery brand for so many years, you know, giving products to create photographs. Yes, people can see it. But then also Canon as a brand positions itself that why those people who cannot see should not feel the product or feel the picture. And that’s where I think this has come out as a concept where they can also feel what is around them and they can also sense what exactly the pictures and the images are,” he stated.
Ghani affirmed that the elevated printing feature is just one among many available on Canon printers, and the company will stay abreast of the ever-changing world of technology to keep giving its customers new experiences.
The second edition of GITEX Africa kicked off in Morocco, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, and will close on Friday, May 31, 2024. The three-day event showcases the latest innovations and trends in tech, with a focus on connecting businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors.
