Rwanda’s envoy to Lebanon, Ambassador Williams Nkurunziza, yesterday presented his letters of credence to Lebanese President President General Michel Aoun  at the latter’s Beirut Palace, a move the Rwandan Embassy says signals the strengthening of diplomatic relations.

Based in Turkey and covering Jordan, Kazakhstan and now Lebanon, Ambassador Nkurunziza is the first-ever Rwandan envoy to be accredited to Lebanon and is expected to follow up on all Rwanda-Lebanon bilateral cooperation matters from Rwanda’s Mission in Turkey.

The ceremony was attended by Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister, Gebran Bassil, as well as senior Presidential and ministry of foreign affairs staff. Ambassador Nkurunziza was accompanied by his deputy Head of Mission, Eric Rugamba

"We seek to promote greater commercial engagement between our two economies and look forward to working with Lebanese public and private commercial entities towards this end,” the Ambassador said in a statement. 

President Aoun expressed his pleasure in receiving the Rwandan envoy and reiterated his government’s support to all efforts aimed at increased trade and investment collaboration between the two countries.

The Lebanese Foreign Minister expressed his admiration of Rwanda’s pace of development and continued active participation in peacekeeping operations around the world, particularly in Africa.

Nkurunziza and his delegation visited the Investment and Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), the country’s highest trade and investment institution, to discuss direct collaboration with both Rwanda’s private and public sectors in promoting trade and investments for the mutual benefit of both countries.

IDAL CEO, Nabil Itani, accepted to collaborate with the Rwanda Embassy in creating greater awareness in Lebanon of opportunities in Rwanda, leading to an IDAL-led first-ever Lebanese trade and investment mission to Rwanda in the near future.

The Ambassador is also scheduled to meet Lebanese Ministers of Agriculture, Information and Communication Technology, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and the Beirut Chamber of Commerce.

The Rwandan delegation will also visit facilities specializing in growing and processing of grapes and apples, two of Lebanon’s major exports.

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Amb Williams Nkurunziza inspects a guard of honor during the event his letters of credence to the Lebanese President in Beirut