URUGWIRO VILLAGE - About 20 Heads of State and over 5000 delegates are expected to attend the upcoming Leon H. Sullivan Summit expected to be held in Rwanda next year.

The Leon H. Sullivan Summit brings together the world’s political and business leaders, delegates representing national and international civil and multi-national organisations, and members of academic institutions in order to focus attention and resources on Africa’s economic and social development.

Speaking at Urugwiro Village after meeting with President Paul Kagame, Carl Masters who heads the technical team of the Summit said; "the Summit in Rwanda will focus more on agriculture, education, tourism, energy, investments and trade opportunities.”

The Summit was established by the late Rev. Leon H. Sullivan in 1991 to bridge the business gap between Africans and African Americans in the United States of America.

Masters added that it will be a great opportunity for Rwandan and US investors to explore opportunities in both countries and also assist and benefit local traders in Rwanda who will be given an opportunity to trade and exhibit their goods during the event.

Masters was accompanied to his meeting with the President by senior technical staff of Leon H. Sullivan Foundation who are preparing the high level Summit expected to take place mid next year.

Masters pointed out that the Summit will help forge partnerships between African and American entrepreneurs aimed at beneficial knowledge and expertise sharing.

"In our preparations, we are looking at having a chartered planes coming direct from Washington to Kigali aboard 1500 delegates while the majority of other delegates will fly in Kigali from different African countries,” revealed Masters.

Meanwhile, Francis Gatare, the Principal Deputy CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said that it would be a great opportunity for Rwandan traders to generate revenues for the mega summit.

"We expect the hospitality sector to make use of the event and traders will have an opportunity to generate more revenues; we are also looking at long term opportunities like partnerships and investments opportunities,” said Gatare who also attended the delegation’s meeting with the President.

Leon H. Sullivan Summits have previously been held in eight other African countries, the first one was held in Ivory Coast while the most recent one was held in Tanzania.

The Summits also raise the world’s consciousness on the importance of Africa as a global citizen and a viable world player in the economic arena.

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