President Paul Kagame, in the end -of-year address to the nation, paid tribute to resilient Rwandans, but reminded them that while they continue to build the nation, detractors are going nowhere.
The President, whose speech was aired on state broadcaster – Rwanda Television, thanked Rwandans for a fruitful year.
“Our economy, our security and well-being of Rwandans, and the peaceful elections that brought us all together, these are achievement that marked last year,” he said.
On top of that, unity among Rwandans, good relationship between Rwanda, the region and the world at large were other characteristics of the year.
All these he said, “were made possible by working together with commitment and determination.”
The President said that the continued economic growth, social welfare of Rwandans, security and the recently concluded Presidential elections, were all successful because of the will of Rwandans.
“Let’s continue that good path we have been on for sometime now, working together, learning, serving our country as we also reinforce mechanisms to protect what achieved so that none can undermine them,” Kagame said.
Kagame said, everything had been achieved without favours from detractors.
“There will always be those who want to undermine Rwanda. We must sure that they never succeed wherever they come from or whatever means they have.”
Kagame requested Rwandans to continue the journey of building Rwanda in the New Year, working together which has always yielded results.
“We must work to ensure our progress is sustained for generations to come,” said Kagame adding that building, protecting the country is every body’s responsibility.
Kagame wished all Rwandans best wishes of big strides “in our journey of unity, development and security for generations to come.”
Rwanda’s economy has been growing steadily with trade imbalance going down.
On December 28th last year, Central Bank announced that in the last 11 months of the year, the country reduced its trade deficit by 21.1% compared to the same period in 2016.
The reduction, according to Central Bank Governor John Rwangombwa, was attributed to a significant increase in formal exports value by 53.7% and a decrease in formal imports value by 1.4%.
In the first 8 months of last year, trade imbalance had reduced by 24.9% following a decrease in formal imports by 7.9% in value and an increase in formal exports value by 44.9%.
