Rwanda’s Ambassador to Turkey, Williams Nkurunziza presented his Letters of Credence to Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, on Tuesday.

President Erdoğan welcomed Ambassador Nkurunziza to Turkey and wished him well in his mission as the new Ambassador of Rwanda.

He lauded Rwanda’s progress under the leadership of President Paul Kagame and reiterated his desire for strengthening the existing relations between the two countries, according to a statement.

"While commending the existing trade between the two countries currently standing at about $35 million, President Erdoğan noted that there was need to do more to increase the volume of trade and to promote increased flows of Turkish investments into Rwanda,” it said.

"The President further observed that their opening of an embassy in Kigali and the operation of daily flights by Turkish Airlines to Kigali help to create an enabling environment for increased economic activity between the two countries.”

Ambassador Nkurunziza conveyed to President Erdogan fraternal greetings from President Kagame and reiterated the importance that the President of Rwanda attaches to enhanced bilateral relations between Rwanda and Turkey.

The Ambassador took the opportunity to briefly inform his host of Rwanda’s desire to see more Turkish investments in key growth sectors in Rwanda – from energy to mass housing; from commercial farming to road construction; from hospitality to smart trade manifest in the establishment of a distribution hub for Turkish products targeting Rwanda’s immediate hinterland in East and Central Africa.

On the same day, Ambassador Nkurunziza hosted 150 guests, including members of the diplomatic corps, friends of Rwanda; captains of Turkish industry and Rwandans living in Turkey to a reception.

The ambassador called upon the Turkish business community to take advantage of the immense investment opportunities that Rwanda, the region and continent offer to discerning investors.

‘All of us share a common desire and duty to be building blocks for peace that our planet deserves. And to be effective agents of economic diplomacy. As Rwanda’s ambassador, I have one message for Turkish business people: Rwanda is ready for business. And as an African, I say: the continent, the next frontier of growth, beckons pioneers, men and women of faith in the African proposition,’ he said.

In line with existing Turkish protocol, after presenting his Letters of Credence, Ambassador Nkurunziza, accompanied by his spouse and embassy staff visited Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence, founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, to pay respects and laid a wreath on behalf of Rwanda.

Nkurunziza was appointed envoy to Turkey in December and holds concurrent accreditations to the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Kazarkhstan and the Republic of Lebanon.

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