By IANS,
New Delhi : Building upon a new business synergy between India and Africa, a 25-member business delegation led by Rwanda’s former prime minister Bernard Makuza will be here this week to explore new investment opportunities.
Makuza, a close aide of President Paul Kagame who had served as prime minister of Rwanda for over a decade, was replaced Oct 6 and appointed to the Senate.
The highlight of Makuza’s visit will be a business roadshow focussing on trade, investments, joint ventures, technology supplies and sourcing of expertise across a wide spectrum.
The roadshow is being facilitated by Rwanda High Commission in India and Rwanda Development Board in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises, New Delhi.
The two sides will explore business opportunities in agro-processing and packaging, construction, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing of textiles and garments, banking and financial services.
With Rwanda, located at the crossroads of East and Central Africa, becoming an IT hub of Africa, the two sides will seek to enhance cooperation in IT-enabled services, including BPO and software.
Cooperation in mining and energy, including renewables, will also be on the agenda.
Rwanda, which was ravaged by a bloody civil war nearly two decades ago, has transformed into one of top investor-friendly countries in Africa. The World Bank’s Doing Business Report (2010) ranks Rwanda as the top pro-business reformer in the world. It also ranks Rwanda top in East Africa in terms of ease of doing business.
Rwanda has projected itself as a strategic launching pad into the East and Central African market of nearly 200 million people, with a combined GDP of over $100 billion.