Editor,

RE: "British conservationist Sir Attenborough to be part of gorilla naming fete” (The New Times, July 28). Good job, Amb. Yamina Karitanyi! This is what should be expected of Rwanda’s ambassadors accredited to different parts of the world: to make Rwanda’s tourist attractions known to the rest of the world.

This would surely boost the local tourism industry and promote mutual connections between the people of Rwanda and other nationalities at the same time. 

The other day I was reading Prof. Richard Miller’s article in The New Times about the connections of the people of Japan’s Kobe City and Kigali City. He pointed to what can be done to let people in Japan know Rwanda and its resources and attractions better.

According to Prof. Miller, his students seemed to know nothing about Rwanda and the few who seemed to be somewhat informed about the country would mainly tell you about the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

It’s against that background that he encouraged 130 students to do research projects on Rwanda, with many eventually visiting the country.

Our ambassadors too need to do the same: promoting mutual connections and bringing the world to Rwanda. Publications and materials about Rwanda should be availed in different libraries in universities and public places across the world.

We should encourage people to come and study in Rwanda, invest in the country, and facilitate them to obtain a residence permit.

From Prof. Miller, I have learned why President Paul Kagame is always in touch with major universities in America and Europe. Like they say, University students are readers today and leaders tomorrow.

Yulian