President Paul Kagame has attended the ceremony of launching new trademarks and mobile banking of Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR), an event held as Rwanda hosts the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEF) yesterday evening.
Atlas Mara Limited, an investment company bought a branch of Rwanda Development Bank (BRD) in 2014 and last year bought a large part of BPR. Atlas Mara Limited is currently coordinating activities of the two banks in which it has 62% shares.
The new trademark of Atlas Mara Limited has become ‘BPR part of Atlas Mara’, highlighting the relationship between the two institutions. The merger of names will not change the original name of Rwanda based bank ‘BPR.’
In a ceremony held yesterday evening, president Kagame lauded founders of Atlas Mara in 2013, Bob Diamond and Ashish Thakkar for demonstrating themselves as friends of Rwanda.
“It is of great value to see your friends investing in your country and add their strength to yours to uplift our countries economy,” he said.
“I would like to congratulate you for what you have achieved and envisaged achievements. I think you will do it excellently as you can,” he added.
President Kagame also welcomed leaders of Atlas Mara Limited in WEF.
“You are welcome in WEF and in the journey of making Rwanda a favorable place for Rwandans, Africans and foreigners,” he said.
Bob Diamond and Ashish Thakkar have lauded president Kagame for the progress he brought t o Rwandans.
“Being here in the launch of new trademarks is a witness for a country we are investing in,” said Bob.
Bob commended president Kagame for role in business transformation and promoting women among others.
Ashish Thakkar demonstrated that interlinking BRD and BPR will bring great efforts.
He said that using accounts through mobile phones has brought fruitful results since it was launched by telecommunication companies and argues that the launch of ‘Mobile Banking App ‘in BPR will facilitate payments among customers.
The director of BPR, Sanjeev Anand said that the new connection of Atlas and BPR anticipates becoming a powerful bank on African continent in coming days.The new trademarks are set to be used across the country immediately after the launch.
BPR was launched in Eastern Province in 1975.
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