KIGALI - The High Commissioner to Mauritius based in South Africa, Ignatius Kamali Karegesa, this week met senior officials of the Mauritian government and discussed ways and means of strengthening bilateral cooperation.

A press release from the High Commission in Pretoria says that the talks were held after Karegesa presented his credentials to President Anerood Jugnauth.

"With Mauritius’s renowned institutes in hotel management, audit and accountancy, there is a need to find out how Rwanda could benefit. Mauritius, on their part, expressed need to explore ways and means to benefit from Rwanda’s advanced initiatives in ICT, especially the successful policy of One Laptop per Child,” reads part of the communiqué.

Karegesa met top officials including Mauritian Foreign Minister, Arvin Boolell, and Justice Minister, Yatindra Nath Varma, with whom they agreed to collaborate in the area of human capacity building, especially middle level technicians in various sectors where Rwanda has gaps.

Other issues discussed include investment opportunities in Rwanda and Mauritius’ "vibrant private sector” which will be encouraged to explore them.

The envoy thanked President Jugnauth for the support Mauritius extended to Rwanda when applying to join the Commonwealth.

It is noted that the Mauritian President also commended Rwanda’s role in bringing peace and stability in Africa, especially underscoring Rwanda’s peace keeping efforts in Sudan’s volatile region of Darfur.

In 2001, the two countries signed three crucial pacts on; economic, scientific and technical cooperation; avoidance of double taxation and fiscal evasion; and protection and promotion of investments.

Karegesa thanked the government of Mauritius for the support extended to Rwanda in setting up Commercial Courts and in issues to do with revenue mobilization by the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA).

When commercial courts were introduced for the first time in Rwanda a few years ago, the government hired Mauritian judges to administer these courts, among them, the Commercial High Court and the Nyarugenge Commercial Court.

They, however, returned home after Rwandan judges had gained the necessary expertise to run the courts.

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