URUGWIRO VILLAGE - President Paul Kagame yesterday held talks with the Chief Executive Officer of Millicom International Cellular (MIC), Mikael Grahne, the parent company of Tigo, a telecom service provider.

According to Dr. Ignace Gahangara Gatare, the Minister in charge of ICT in the President’s Office, Grahne briefed the President on their future plans that are aimed at providing services to Rwandans.

"They have plans to support projects in other sectors like health and banking. The President assured them of the government support in order to see the services fully benefiting all Rwandans,” Gatare said.

"They also have plans to work with universities. We think that it’s very good for a private sector institution to meet with universities so that they create partnerships that will benefit students,” the minister added.

Tigo, which unveiled its services on the Rwandan market last month, currently covers 14 districts, representing fifty three percent of the population with an ambition to cover the whole country by 2012.  

Grahne described his meeting with the President as one that basically sought to review his company’s plans, "and progress made to date as well as discussing future opportunities to continue bringing new services to the Rwandan market.”

"Our ambition is to create products that meet the Rwandan needs and we will ensure that our services are available to as many people as possible,” he added.

Tigo’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alex Kamara, said that they are working towards creating an environment where every Rwandan will be able to have mobile communication.

"We have brought an energetic and dynamic brand, and behind it we have a clear message about affordable products available to as many people as possible and accessed at really good prices,” said Kamara

Grahne’s delegation also included Hezi Bazalel, Rwanda’s Honorary Consul to Israel, Regis Romero, President of Africa operations, Millicom International, and Pini Moria the African Regional Manager of Marathon Company.  

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