Addressing a high-level audience in Brussels, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Angolan President João Lourenço, Chairperson of the African Union, Kagame warned that partnerships based on directives and compliance are a dead end for Africa’s transformation.
The Global Gateway Forum, now in its second edition since its 2023 launch, gathers leaders from governments, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society to tackle geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges while scaling up investments in global connectivity.
The 2025 Forum provides a critical platform to strengthen collaboration, identify investment opportunities, and promote sustainable development through infrastructure, technology, and green initiatives.
“This forum has, in a short time, proven its worth by connecting ideas and resources and turning them into real investment,” Kagame said, praising the Global Gateway’s focus on innovative strategies. Yet, he underscored a fundamental flaw in how partnerships are often conceived.
“For some, partnership is about giving instructions and setting conditions. For others, it means complying. Africa’s experience shows that this approach does not deliver the transformation we need,” he stated.
Kagame emphasised that genuine partnerships must be built on equality, with shared risks and rewards. “A good partnership does not create dependency. It creates value,” he asserted, outlining Africa’s priorities: robust infrastructure, advanced technology, and competitive industries.
He highlighted Africa’s value to Europe, noting its growing market, talent pool, and critical resources for the green and digital transitions. Pointing to tangible progress, Kagame cited BioNTech’s mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Kigali, supported by the EU’s Team Europe initiative, as a landmark achievement.
“This project is a milestone for regional vaccine production. It will reduce Africa’s import dependency and strengthen our ability to respond to future pandemics,” he said, framing it as a model for partnerships with broader regional impact.
To sustain such initiatives, Kagame stressed the need for private sector engagement and stronger local ecosystems, aligning with the Forum’s goal of fostering sustainable development.
“The work has begun, and we are making good progress. Rwanda will continue to do its part to ensure measurable impact,” he pledged.
Echoing South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Kagame expressed optimism, noting a “positive energy about business, investment, peace, and prosperity” at the Forum.
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