Editor,

RE: "New technologies make Rwanda a front runner in enhancing regional trade” (The New Times, December 27).

 The Government of Rwanda is always attuned to the latest developments and technologies available across the world. The automation of key trade processes that impact imports and exports—coupled with the speed at which clearance is done—augurs well for the future.

 It is notable that the World Bank’s Doing Business Report, released in June 2016, placed Rwanda at position 56 globally, way ahead of Kenya a distant second at rank 92 and further ahead of the other East African Community countries.

 However, this should definitely not lead to complacency. With a more efficient and faster licensing procedure, particularly in the services sector, Rwanda could well move several notches higher.

For Rwanda to make a paradigm shift from being an aid-recipient country to becoming an aid-free nation, there needs to be a substantial increase of investments across all sectors.

 Services play a key role in this process, not of course undermining the need to increase manufacturing processes simultaneously.

 Tourism today is the largest foreign exchange earner for the country and with the Government constantly looking at fresh pastures, within the tourism spectrum, to even include education and health tourism and with the implementation of the Smart Rwanda initiatives of the Ministry of Youth and ICT, Rwanda will soon become the "Silicon Valley” of Africa.

Clarence Fernandes