Editor,

Re: "RDB introduces Conservative Awards at Kwita Izina” (The New Times, August 30, 2015).

It was very encouraging to read that the Rwanda Development Board will announce three awards at the 11th annual Kwita Izina event, due on September 5.

The three awards will be given for outstanding contribution towards "conserving, promoting and maintaining the tourism sector”.

Awards always encourage competitiveness and higher performance standards in society.

Only recently at an International Business Forum in Kigali two outstanding youth —Annick Ingabire from the Kigali Institute of Management, and Emma Umutoniwabo, from the University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology—were awarded with international  internships to spend up to one year in Mumbai at the world class SevenHills Hospital.

At the same event, ten Imbuto scholars were also awarded full scholarships for three years of graduate level study by the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kigali.

The Ministry of Youth and ICT, likewise, encourages the youth of this great nation with ICT awards on a regular basis.

Such initiatives will steer this great nation to excellence in today's highly competitive world.

Clarence Fernandes, Mumbai, India