President Kagame meets India PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday during high level visit
On Indian visit, President Paul Kagame met on Tuesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during which they witnessed signing of a series of bilateral deals.
India will open a mission in Kigali – among the several agreements put together, according to a joint communique issued by the two sides. And India wants relations moved to another level of a “strategic partnership”.
President Kagame is in Gandhinagar city in Western India as part of a 3-day trip during which he also speak at organised business events.
India welcomed Rwanda as the 25th co-signatory country to Prime Minister Modi’s initiative of the International Solar Alliance. The two leaders acknowledged the importance of this Alliance in advancing new solar technologies worldwide.The two leaders also recalled the Solar electrification of 35 schools in rural Rwanda under a grant from India as an example of south-south cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi and President Kagame expressed confidence that the development of Export Targeted Irrigated Agriculture Project and its expansion under India’s Lines of Credit of US $ 120 million would bring irrigation facilities to more than 41,190 hectares of cultivable land, and agreed to fast track its implementation. The project would benefit the people of Rwanda through construction of watershed works, farm mechanization and establishment of post harvest processing units of agricultural produce. The project has various other bilateral partners.
President Kagame acknowledged India’s assistance in augmenting Rwanda’s electricity production with the commissioning of the 28 MW Hydroelectric Project on the Nyabarongo River under a Line of Credit of US $ 80 million.
Through lines of credit, India conveyed its readiness to support phase II of the Nyabarongo power project, Technical and Vocational Training Centres (TVET) and Huye-Kibeho road project. Prime Minister Modi further announced gifting of US$ 2 million of medicines and a cash grant of US$ 1 million for sourcing medical equipment from India.
The Rwandan and India leaders met with delegations of either side
The two leaders strongly affirmed that terrorism is a serious threat to humanity. They reiterated their strong commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and stressed that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever, agreeing that there should be zero-tolerance to terrorism.
Rwanda appreciated the training of its defence forces in various Indian Army training institutions under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) initiative of India. The two sides noted with satisfaction that training and scholarships under India Africa Forum Summit process are an important mechanism for training and capacity building.
The two sides noted with satisfaction signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Forensic Sciences by the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University to support Rwanda’s National Police in modernizing Forensic investigations.
India welcomed the initiative of a direct Rwandair flight from Kigali to Mumbai. Both sides continue to work on concluding a Bilateral Air Services Agreement and an agreement for the exemption of visa for diplomatic and official passport holders.
Both sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in culture, tourism, people-to-people links, especially exchanges between the youth of Rwanda and India. President Kagame welcomed increased private sector investments from India, highlighting progress in business and investment climate, that makes Rwanda a competitive and conducive environment to do business.
Meanwhile, India is a preparing “high level” visit to Rwanda at a date to be communicated through diplomatic channels. It could likely be the PM could soon be in Kigali.
In Gandhinagar, President Kagame is to attend the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 8th edition under the theme “Sustainable Economic and Social Development.”
Since its inception, the Summit has become, “a unique forum for exchanging ideas, sharing knowledge, networking, exploring business opportunities and signing cooperation agreements and partnerships, while setting the policy agenda for meeting some of the current global challenges,” organizers said.
President Kagame was scheduled to address an Indian Business Seminar on Rwanda.
