The ‘Roundtable on Intra-Regional Migration and Labour Mobility within Africa’, a three-day international conference on migration and labour mobility has begun at the Kigali Serena Hotel.
A three-day international conference on migration and labour mobility has begun at the Kigali Serena Hotel.
The ‘Roundtable on Intra-Regional Migration and Labour Mobility within Africa’ is a joint initiative of the African Union (AU), the International Organisation for Migration, the Economic Commission for Africa, the Swiss government and Rwanda.
The meeting aims to encourage and facilitate free movement of persons within Africa and provide alternative legal channels of migration.
Opening the meeting, Minister in the Office of the President, Venantie Tugireyezu, reminded participants that East African Heads of State have been advocates of labour and migration reforms in Africa.
"In the recent past Heads of States in East African Region have decided to join the efforts to fast track Integration with migration and labour mobility being among the key elements.”
Tugireyezu informed the conference that Rwanda initiated the National Migration Policy in 2008.
"The policy contributed to fostering sustainable economic growth, promoting tourism, investment, regional economic integration and increased private sector competitiveness,” Tugireyezu said.
In his remarks, Dr. Khabele Matlosa, the AU Director of Political Affairs, commended Rwanda for scrapping visa application for all Africans traveling to Rwanda.