President Paul Kagame, Monday, met with CARE International’s global ambassador, American business woman Sheila Johnson at State House Kiyovu.

Johnson who was in the country for five days toured a number of CARE International’s projects that deal with early childhood programmes, among others, in different parts of the country.

Speaking to the press shortly after the meeting, Johnson said that she met the President to introduce to him CARE’s programmes in the country and to also explore how to  best support Rwanda’s development agenda as contained in Vision 2020.

CARE is involved in helping child-headed families and giving hope to women survivors of gender based violence. She visited some of these programs in Ruhango and Kamonyi districts during her stay in the country.

"CARE has done a remarkable job in helping people to enjoy sustainable livelihoods,” she said, adding,"The President is interested in CARE’s programmes and he has even expressed interest in going out and seeing them.”

Johnson revealed that she will be starting sports programmes in the country geared towards women such as women’s basketbal.

"This is important for their physical and psychological development,” she explained.

Francis Gatare Principle Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Development Board, who also attended the meeting, said that Johnson explored business opportunities in the country.

"It is mainly an exploratory visit… and they have come out extremely happy about what they have found in the country,” he said of Johnson and her team.

He also mentioned that possible areas of investment including luxury hotels and entertainment which are some of her business interests.
Gatare revealed that during the meeting, the President invited her to invest in the country.

"As you know, the President is the number one advocate for investment in the country. People of that business calibre can not go without him pointing out to them the opportunities for doing business in the country,” he said, adding that they would make a follow up on the possibility of Johnson and her business partners, investing in the country.

Johnson is reported to be America’s first black woman billionaire. She has many business interests which include shares in three professional sports franchises namely; Women National Basketball Association’s Washington Mystics, Washington Capitals hockey team and Washington Wizards basketball team.

She also has interests in luxury hotels, the entertainment and aviation industries.

Johnson co-founded the broadcasting empire Black Entertainment Television (BET) together with her former husband Robert L. Johnson. She left the country yesterday.

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