She shared these insights in an interview with IGIHE following the first-ever ‘Marrakech Coffee & Tea Festival’ in Morocco, which provided a unique opportunity for Rwandan investors to showcase the quality of Rwandan coffee and tea on the international stage.
During the interview, Amb. Umutoni reflected on the benefits of serving as a Rwandan diplomat, how President Kagame has paved the way for Rwanda’s diplomatic success, and the advantages Rwanda gains from its relationship with the Kingdom of Morocco.
{{IGIHE: Could you provide any recent developments regarding Rwanda’s representation in Morocco?}}
{{Amb. Umutoni: }} After serving in diplomatic missions in countries like Tanzania and Canada and at Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I would like to express my gratitude for the trust my country placed in me to take on diplomatic responsibilities in Morocco.
One of the rewarding aspects of being a diplomat for Rwanda is that His Excellency President Paul Kagame has greatly eased our work. While we strive to carry out our duties to the best of our abilities, the President has made it much easier for us.
Today, as a Rwandan diplomat, we engage in various diplomatic initiatives… and the mere recognition that you are a Rwandan diplomat opens many doors. This is a clear reflection of President Kagame’s leadership, which has expanded our nation’s reach and made our work much easier.
When you meet with leaders or investors who wish to engage with Rwanda, they quickly recognize the quality of work being done in Rwanda. They know about the government’s efforts to make investment and tourism in Rwanda more accessible, and they are confident that they will not face challenges as they might in other countries.
This positive image of the country helps make our diplomatic efforts more successful.
As diplomats, President Kagame is our chief diplomat, having opened the door for us to pursue opportunities in diplomacy, trade, culture, and more. Our role is to continue his work, ensuring that diplomacy leads to economic and cultural growth in line with Rwanda’s Vision 2050.
{{IGIHE: After the appointment as Rwanda’s Ambassador to Morocco in 2023, how has the relationship between the two countries evolved?}}
{{Amb. Umutoni:}} First, I’d like to emphasize that the relationship between Rwanda and the Kingdom of Morocco is very strong. It has existed for a long time, but it was further strengthened in 2016 during President Kagame’s working visit to Morocco, followed shortly by a visit from the King of Morocco to Rwanda.
At that time, the relationship reached new heights, with several agreements signed, leading to concrete initiatives. I took on this role in 2023, but the foundation was laid earlier, with the opening of the Moroccan Embassy in Rwanda following the King’s visit. This marked a significant step forward for our diplomatic ties.
Since my arrival, I have continued the work of my predecessors, focusing on strengthening the ties between our countries. The relationship spans diplomatic, political, and economic areas. It is visible through exchanges between heads of state, ministers, and other key officials, as well as in education, where Morocco offers 100 scholarships to Rwandan students annually.
Economically, Morocco has invested in Rwanda through companies like OCP Africa, which provides fertilizer to farmers, and Cooper Pharma, which has built a $6 million pharmaceutical plant. Furthermore, Bank of Africa now operates in Rwanda, showcasing the positive economic relationship between our two nations.
{{Could you share insights on the newest Moroccan investments in Rwanda?}}
{{Amb. Umutoni: }} There are several Moroccan investments in Rwanda. For example, OCP Africa, a fertilizer company, has opened a branch here to support agricultural production.
Cooper Pharma, a pharmaceutical company, has established a $6 million plant to manufacture various medicines. Bank of Africa has also expanded into Rwanda.
This shows the depth of the economic ties between Rwanda and Morocco. However, there is still much more potential for growth. While we have seen successful investments in Rwanda, we haven’t yet seen as many Rwandans initiating businesses in Morocco, which is something we aim to improve.
We are committed to continuing our diplomatic work to further strengthen these ties. In recent months, we have seen significant progress, particularly in the area of security, with visits from Rwanda’s Minister of Defense, top military officials and Rwanda Correctional Service. These visits further highlight the strong ties between our two nations.
{{Can you tell us a bit about the Marrakech Coffee and Tea Festival, which was recently attended by Rwandans?}}
Recently, the first-ever Marrakech Coffee and Tea Festival took place in Marrakech. It was more of an exhibition, with several countries invited to showcase their coffee and tea products. Rwanda was the guest of honor, with over 10 Rwandan coffee and tea producers participating. This was a significant event for us because Morocco has a strong tea-drinking culture, although coffee is also consumed.
Rwanda, on the other hand, is known for producing high-quality tea and coffee. The festival showed us that there are great opportunities for collaboration. After the three-day exhibition, we, as the embassy, organized an additional two days for Rwandan producers to meet with potential buyers in Morocco. This allowed them to discuss their products, understand the market demand, and explore ways to bring Rwandan coffee and tea to the Moroccan market.
We are hopeful that after returning to Rwanda, the producers will take the necessary steps to start exporting their products to Morocco. We believe that this collaboration will create lasting opportunities for Rwandan coffee and tea in Morocco.
{{What role do students and Rwandans living in Morocco play in Rwanda’s development?}}
In Morocco, many Rwandans are students who come here on scholarships. Some of them have completed their studies and are now working, while others are part of various organizations.
The primary role of these students is to participate in initiatives aimed at advancing the country, especially those organized by the embassy.
One of the first things I did when I arrived was to meet with these students, listen to their experiences, and discuss how we could support them in their studies. We also encourage them to contribute to Rwanda’s development after their studies, particularly as many of them are studying sciences.
The students also actively participate in embassy-organized events such as the commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in April, Liberation Day in July, and Umuganura. These events are marked both in Rwanda and here in Morocco, and it’s always inspiring to see our students engage in these important occasions.
Some students have also started combining their studies with running businesses. Additionally, we are working to promote Rwandan culture here. We now have a student association that performs and promotes Rwandan traditions during various activities, which has gained recognition. Whenever other groups organize events, we encourage them to involve our students, allowing them to showcase their talents and contribute to the promotion of Rwanda’s culture.
These contributions are vital for advancing the development of our country. The embassy organizes events for the diaspora, celebrating important national holidays, which helps maintain a strong connection between Rwanda and those living abroad. This also fosters a sense of belonging and pride in our students and encourages them to share their love for Rwanda with others.
Many people in Morocco became familiar with Rwanda when our President visited here, as well as during the Moroccan King’s visit to Rwanda. However, many still don’t fully understand what Rwanda is truly like—the culture, values, and the people. Through these events, students and diaspora members have a chance to share more about Rwanda and its development plans.
{{Where do you want to see the relationship between the two countries?}}
As diplomats, our responsibility is to implement the country’s foreign policy. The representative of this policy is the President of the Republic, who provides the framework we follow. Rwanda’s foreign policy includes promoting the country’s economic interests, effectively utilizing the diaspora, and ensuring it plays a role in national development, among other priorities.
When we reach the embassy, we assess the current state of the relationship between the two countries and identify how we can contribute. While we have made progress, there is still much to be done. In the future, we must continue focusing on promoting investments, expanding industries, and facilitating travel between our countries.
For example, we currently don’t have direct flights between Rwanda and Morocco, but this is an area we are working on through discussions. Once travel routes are established, business professionals and those in the travel industry will see the opportunities available in both countries, especially if access becomes easier.
Rwanda has a policy to make visa applications as simple as possible. Diplomats and service passport holders can obtain their visas upon arrival, while regular passport holders must apply beforehand. While applying for a visa is not difficult, we hope that in the future, all Rwandans will be able to travel to Morocco without any hassle.
Morocco has made great strides in tourism, and we believe that Rwanda could learn from them in terms of promoting the country to attract more visitors. We are working on connecting the tourism sectors of both countries by providing information on travel opportunities, such as flights to Rwanda, where visitors can experience gorilla trekking and explore our national parks.
A tourist could visit Morocco, then come to Rwanda, and later continue their journey to Europe or America.
{{You recently earned a PhD degree in Business Management. How did you manage balancing diplomacy, being a mother at home, and being a student to reach this level?}}
Indeed, it’s a lot to juggle, but one thing doesn’t stop the other. It requires commitment and discipline.
I have wanted this PhD degree for a long time, but because of my numerous responsibilities, I couldn’t find the time to pursue it, even though I was eager to do so.
I tried before, but I was unable to make it work due to time constraints. However, two years ago, I decided to go for it because I realized my children were growing, and I now had the time to commit to my studies while balancing everything else.
To achieve this degree, I chose a Hybrid Program, where most of the learning was done remotely, with in-person sessions on weekends.
Over these two years, it wasn’t easy. Studying doesn’t stop you from working, and working doesn’t stop you from being a mother. Similarly, being a mother doesn’t prevent you from managing your home.
So, everything comes down to knowing how to manage your time effectively.
I’m proud to have completed my degree, and one of the reasons it was easier for me was that I worked on topics related to my profession. I focused on diplomacy in economics, investment, and development, with a special focus on programs like Visit Rwanda and Made in Rwanda.
These are areas I am already involved in, and conducting research with my fellow Rwandan ambassadors helped me gain valuable insights into economic diplomacy and leveraging Made in Rwanda and Visit Rwanda. This made the process easier because I was working on familiar topics, allowing me to perform better.
For students in Rwanda who want to study in Morocco, for businesses seeking opportunities in Morocco, or for those interested in tourism, we welcome them all. Rwandans, wherever they are, are always welcome.
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