KIGALI, Aug 8 (NNN-XINHUA) — Government officials and private sector actors from Rwanda and Madagascar held a business forum on Monday in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, to explore ways of investment cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as information and communications technology, mining, tourism, infrastructure and manufacturing.
Visiting Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina attended the forum that showcased business and investment opportunities in both countries.
“To industrialize a country, you need the private sector. We cannot develop a country without creating employment, producing, and adding value locally to all things that people need,” Rajoelina told the gathering.
Clare Akamanzi, the chief executive officer of the Rwanda Development Board, said Rwanda has created an enabling environment to facilitate investment such as easing of business registration.
She stressed that the country’s shared vision of a prosperous future is grounded on the spirit of entrepreneurship, exchange of knowledge and skills, as well as expertise.
“This forum provides a platform for meaningful dialogues, networking, and forging lasting partnerships,” she said.
A Memorandum of Understanding aimed at fostering and enhancing business cooperation between the private sector actors in both countries was signed at the forum.
Meanwhile, President Rajoelina, who arrived in the country on Sunday for a three-day visit, on Monday held discussions with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, on the status of bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Madagascar, the president’s office said.
“For both our countries, trade and investment are important drivers of economic growth. In recent years, Rwanda and Madagascar have been hit by extreme weather events. This has affected livelihoods, and damaged biodiversity and infrastructure. We must share expertise, and learn from each other’s experiences,” said Kagame. — NNN-XINHUA
