FOREIGN RELATIONS - The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID)’s Director for East and Central Africa, Dave Fish, is in the country for a two-day visit. Fish who is a regular visitor to Rwanda jetted in yesterday from Burundi as part of a tour of the Great Lakes Region.

His visit follows President Paul Kagame’s visit to the UK two weeks ago. The President met the Secretary of State for International Development while in the UK.

According a statement issued by DFID, Fish will hold discussions with government officials on how DFID can continue supporting the anti-poverty campaign in Rwanda.

He is expected to meet with the President today and visit Millennium Village and the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI) and livestock projects in Bugesera District.

While there, he will meet with the mayor of Bugesera district and other officials to discuss the role of the district in ensuring service delivery and implementing the economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS).

"We recognize Rwanda’s great progress from 1994 Genocide and we are proud to be associated with this progress. I look forward to discussing with the President Kagame, his ministers and officials,” Fish said on arrival.

The UK has been providing humanitarian and development assistance to Rwanda since 1994, and is one of the country’s biggest bilateral development partners.

Records show that the UK has offered about 380 million pounds (about Frw421, 420,000,000) to Rwanda over 10 years through bilateral assistance.
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