Home NewsInternational Rwanda Eyes Wider Opportunities as it Joins OECD Dev’t Center

Rwanda Eyes Wider Opportunities as it Joins OECD Dev’t Center

by Dan Ngabonziza
4:48 pm

Trade Minister Hakuziyaremye speaking during Rwanda’s admission.

Rwanda has been admitted a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Center as its 55th member during the OECD Forum currently taking place in Paris, France.

Rwanda’s accession was announced during the 5th High Level Meeting of the OECD Development Center Governing Board..

Established in 1961, the OECD Development Center is an independent platform for knowledge sharing and policy dialogue between Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries and developing economies to allow nations to interact on an equal footing.

Accepting Rwanda’s membership, Trade and Industry Minister Soraya Hakuziyaremye said Rwanda’s accession reflects its development path.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Rwanda, I wish to convey our appreciation to the OECD Secretariat, as well as the OECD Development Centre teams who have worked with us for four years to ensure Rwanda’s membership. This is a testimony to our transformational development path, our commitment to sharing the lessons learned, and our willingness to enhance cooperation with other member States, while accessing best practices of development from other OECD members,” she said.

According to Minister Hakuziyaremye, “Working with and within the Development Center will allow Rwanda to participate and contribute to evidence-based policy dialogue, in particular in reviewing and designing key policies and reforms in terms of youth employment, increasing our tax base, enhancing the role of our private sector and reviewing our industrial policy.”

Rwanda applied to join the OECD Center in November 2018. It is the first member from the East African Community (EAC).