KIGALI - The Belgian government through its development arm, Belgium Technical Cooperation (BTC), has promised to consider investing €170m in development projects come the next financial year.

The projects to be considered include basic health care, education, governance and rural development.

Speaking during celebrations to mark the cooperation’s 10 years in Rwanda, BTC Resident Representative, Jean Saliez, said that BTC has decided that instead of being strictly technical, it will focus more on development projects.

"We are waiting for the reading of the government budget in June,” he said.

"BTC has €170m of projects to be implemented in Rwanda’s portfolio,” said Saliez.

He revealed that the agency took the decision because of the new challenges of globalization and the need to reduce poverty by a half by the year 2015 as noted in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He highlighted that so far, €43m have been invested in the health sector with the construction and rehabilitation of Bushenge, Kibagabaga District Hospital, Rugarama health centre among others. 

Saliez said that BTC is currently implementing a 4-year plan cooperation program (2007-2010) with a total budget of 140m Euros.

BTC was created in 1999 to manage bilateral development programs financed by the Belgian federal government. However, it also implements development programs on behalf of other bilateral and multilateral agencies; the European Union and World Bank.   

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