I was recently in Rwanda to brief President Kagame on CBC’s programme for the coming months and discuss his involvement in the Commonwealth Business Forum to be held in Perth, Australia later this year. This was the first trip to Rwanda where I had the chance to get out and around and see some of the Country outside of Kigali.
I was impressed by the level of development visible outside of the capital, the roads we used to travel to the new Free Trade Zones the government are setting up to promote exports are world class. And one of President Kagame’s headline schemes to get Rwanda on-line, is nearly complete – this will open up huge new opportunities across the country.
Rwanda’s success has lessons for us all, President Kagame has lead an active international investment promotion campaign that is paying dividends. Much of Rwanda’s growth is driven by the Private Sector, giving the Government room to focus on the countries social needs.
During our discussions, President Kagame was keen to highlight the emerging investment opportunities in Rwanda’s power sector, including Hydro, Methane Gas and other renewable and in ICT. And he was particularly keen to highlight the opportunities in Agriculture, specifically Tea and Tea processing where the value addition is now being done inside Rwanda.
President Kagame will lead a business delegation to the Africa Investment Forum in Tanzania on April 17 -19, where many of the Projects he highlighted will be presented. I would encourage all of those with an interest to come along to the Forum as it will be a very important business event for East Africa and the Continent as a whole.
Showing posts with label Paul Kagame. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paul Kagame. Show all posts
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Monday, 13 September 2010
President Kagame's inauguration
I was honoured to be invited by President Kagame for his inauguration last week. It was an amazing event that filled the Stadium to its capacity of 40,000 with 10s of thousands more watching on screens outside. The Event was attended by 14 Heads of State from across Africa, Ministers, Private Sector Leaders and representatives of International NGOs and Agencies.
The Event was not just the inauguration of Rwanda’s President but the inauguration of a new African Statesman, demonstrated by the level of support shown by visiting Heads of State.
President Kagame dedicated much of his speech to responding to his Critics on Human Rights and discussing the development successes in Rwanda. Anyone that has seen the changes in Rwanda over the last 10-15 years cannot fail to be impressed with the level of progress and development.
While NGOs and the International Media have a right to discuss Rwanda’s Human Rights, I hope they do it within the framework of the Development successes. Leaders like Kagame have to be engaged in Dialogue with constructive criticism rather than publicly hung.
Africa is changing, progress is being made on democracy and economic development and the continent should be engaged in recognition of its potential to be the next BRIC. Africa will be one of the key drivers of global growth over the next century. Let’s not miss this opportunity by failing to create mutually beneficial dialogue and consolidate our partnerships with the continent.
The Event was not just the inauguration of Rwanda’s President but the inauguration of a new African Statesman, demonstrated by the level of support shown by visiting Heads of State.
President Kagame dedicated much of his speech to responding to his Critics on Human Rights and discussing the development successes in Rwanda. Anyone that has seen the changes in Rwanda over the last 10-15 years cannot fail to be impressed with the level of progress and development.
While NGOs and the International Media have a right to discuss Rwanda’s Human Rights, I hope they do it within the framework of the Development successes. Leaders like Kagame have to be engaged in Dialogue with constructive criticism rather than publicly hung.
Africa is changing, progress is being made on democracy and economic development and the continent should be engaged in recognition of its potential to be the next BRIC. Africa will be one of the key drivers of global growth over the next century. Let’s not miss this opportunity by failing to create mutually beneficial dialogue and consolidate our partnerships with the continent.
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Africa the next BRIC
Sub Saharan Africa can be the next BRIC; from 2000 to 2010 Sub Sahara grew at a faster rate, in nominal dollars terms, than both India and China and is predicted by the IMF to grow at a faster rate than Brazil between 2010 – 2015.
Sub Sahara has much going for it and conditions are improving constantly. Between 2002 and 2008 the continent achieved a growth rate of 5.2% a year on average, and only dropped a single percentage point since the global economic crisis – still a higher rate than the developed world is expected to achieve.
Africa’s population had grown to 820 million in 2008, and the percentage that can be considered ‘middle class’ has grown astronomically since the 1990s. Africa is now both ready to take its place as a market of consumers for global products and as an attractive investment destination for global business looking for new opportunities. I would suggest Commonwealth countries to potential investors as they make up 17 of the top 20 places to do business in Africa, according to the IFC.
To achieve this jump, to become the 5th BRIC, Africa needs to deal with a number of persistent issues such as the infrastructure and power deficit, increasing access and the quality of Education and enhancing business competitiveness, these will have to be achieved along with progress on democratization and good governance. To succeed on both economic development and good governance simultaneously African will need more strong and dynamic leaders. Rwanda and President Kagame are a case in point; it is unfortunate to see the international media running negative stories about one of Africa’s best success stories.
Paul Kagame has been one of the most ambitious and successful African leaders in fighting poverty and driving growth in his country. This year the IFC named Rwanda the best business reformer in the World, likewise Paul Kagame is recognised by many western leaders as one of Africa’s Best, Tony Blair described him as ‘visionary’ a sentiment I agree with.
While there are concerns about the current election in the Rwanda, we must not forget the impact that Kagame has made on the development of his country. Democracy is hugely important but it will not be achieved without economic development, democracy on empty stomachs will not succeed –this needs to be more widely recognised.
While raising the issue of Human rights, we should be supporting leaders like Paul Kagame that are driving progress in their countries and the continent. Africa is also making progress on democratisation, Kenya’s recent peaceful referendum that aimed the settle the country’s political disputed is a good example. These stories and there like should be the ones that the international media focus on as Africa strives to become a BRIC. A more balanced approached to reporting on the continent, that helps encourage Africans, will benefit us all in the end.
Sub Sahara has much going for it and conditions are improving constantly. Between 2002 and 2008 the continent achieved a growth rate of 5.2% a year on average, and only dropped a single percentage point since the global economic crisis – still a higher rate than the developed world is expected to achieve.
Africa’s population had grown to 820 million in 2008, and the percentage that can be considered ‘middle class’ has grown astronomically since the 1990s. Africa is now both ready to take its place as a market of consumers for global products and as an attractive investment destination for global business looking for new opportunities. I would suggest Commonwealth countries to potential investors as they make up 17 of the top 20 places to do business in Africa, according to the IFC.
To achieve this jump, to become the 5th BRIC, Africa needs to deal with a number of persistent issues such as the infrastructure and power deficit, increasing access and the quality of Education and enhancing business competitiveness, these will have to be achieved along with progress on democratization and good governance. To succeed on both economic development and good governance simultaneously African will need more strong and dynamic leaders. Rwanda and President Kagame are a case in point; it is unfortunate to see the international media running negative stories about one of Africa’s best success stories.
Paul Kagame has been one of the most ambitious and successful African leaders in fighting poverty and driving growth in his country. This year the IFC named Rwanda the best business reformer in the World, likewise Paul Kagame is recognised by many western leaders as one of Africa’s Best, Tony Blair described him as ‘visionary’ a sentiment I agree with.
While there are concerns about the current election in the Rwanda, we must not forget the impact that Kagame has made on the development of his country. Democracy is hugely important but it will not be achieved without economic development, democracy on empty stomachs will not succeed –this needs to be more widely recognised.
While raising the issue of Human rights, we should be supporting leaders like Paul Kagame that are driving progress in their countries and the continent. Africa is also making progress on democratisation, Kenya’s recent peaceful referendum that aimed the settle the country’s political disputed is a good example. These stories and there like should be the ones that the international media focus on as Africa strives to become a BRIC. A more balanced approached to reporting on the continent, that helps encourage Africans, will benefit us all in the end.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Rwanda Investment Forum
Last week CBC hosted the first international investment forum in Rwanda since the country joined the Commonwealth in November 2010. It was a pleasure to be back in Kigali with HE Paul Kagame and his team of Ministers who led the discussions at the Forum.
Rwanda has been a favourite destination of mine and CBC for the last 3 years and I am delighted that the Forum was a huge success. Over 300 delegates attended, nearly half of whom were made up from international investors, many visiting Rwanda for the first time. 10 Companies expressed an interest in setting up in Rwanda, including a large Indian ICT company, which will set up its Africa office in Kigali and also several proposals in Agriculture and Agri-processing.
I would like to express my personal gratitude to the British High Commissioner in Rwanda for hosting a reception for the international delegation, and to his wife for graciously preparing sushi for the guests. Another highlight of the Trip was a Commonwealth Vs Rwanda cricket match that very diplomatically resulted in a draw. Rwanda, with only 3 months membership under its belt is already acting as if it has been a member for years!
I am sure contributions and leadership of HE Paul Kagame will be very noticeable at all future commonwealth deliberations.
Rwanda has been a favourite destination of mine and CBC for the last 3 years and I am delighted that the Forum was a huge success. Over 300 delegates attended, nearly half of whom were made up from international investors, many visiting Rwanda for the first time. 10 Companies expressed an interest in setting up in Rwanda, including a large Indian ICT company, which will set up its Africa office in Kigali and also several proposals in Agriculture and Agri-processing.
I would like to express my personal gratitude to the British High Commissioner in Rwanda for hosting a reception for the international delegation, and to his wife for graciously preparing sushi for the guests. Another highlight of the Trip was a Commonwealth Vs Rwanda cricket match that very diplomatically resulted in a draw. Rwanda, with only 3 months membership under its belt is already acting as if it has been a member for years!
I am sure contributions and leadership of HE Paul Kagame will be very noticeable at all future commonwealth deliberations.
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Presidents Optimistic about African Future
Over the Weekend I was pleased to catch President Obama’s speech to the Ghanaian Parliament. The US President focused on many issues that I and CBC believe are important for the future prosperity of the African Continent.
President Obama spoke of Africa’s future being in African hands, “aid is not an end in itself. The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating the conditions where it is no longer needed”. He went on to talk of a Continent not only rich in natural resources, but also entrepreneurs where “cell phone entrepreneurs to small farmers, have shown the capacity and commitment to create their own opportunities”
This optimistic view of Africa is shared by HE Paul Kagame who I met last week while he was in the UK to speak at our Africa Business Forum. He commented that the only thing holding Africa back now was the lack of a vibrant business-public sector relationship. “We have the people, we have the recourses and we have proven that investing in Africa gives you the highest possible returns available anywhere in the world”.
I believe that Africa is well positioned to emerge from the recession stronger than ever, and am glad to see that there is a general consensus around the world, after all the continent is still displaying growth rates above the global average. There is a new confidence both within and outside the continent in the African future.
President Obama spoke of Africa’s future being in African hands, “aid is not an end in itself. The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating the conditions where it is no longer needed”. He went on to talk of a Continent not only rich in natural resources, but also entrepreneurs where “cell phone entrepreneurs to small farmers, have shown the capacity and commitment to create their own opportunities”
This optimistic view of Africa is shared by HE Paul Kagame who I met last week while he was in the UK to speak at our Africa Business Forum. He commented that the only thing holding Africa back now was the lack of a vibrant business-public sector relationship. “We have the people, we have the recourses and we have proven that investing in Africa gives you the highest possible returns available anywhere in the world”.
I believe that Africa is well positioned to emerge from the recession stronger than ever, and am glad to see that there is a general consensus around the world, after all the continent is still displaying growth rates above the global average. There is a new confidence both within and outside the continent in the African future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
