STOCKHOLM- Rwanda’s Ambassador to Sweden, Venetia Sebudandi, on Saturday, called on Rwandans in the Scandinavian country to strive to invest at home and promote their homeland to European investors.

She made the call during her address to Rwandans and friends of Rwanda gathered in central Stockholm for their first meeting with the new counselor at the Embassy, Evode Mudaheranwa.

"Rwanda considers each one of you a key ambassador for our country and our primary mission at present is to speed up development by growing our economy”, Sebudandi said.

She pointed out that within a relatively short period since the end of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, security was in place, justice delivered, dignity restored and hope revived.

"Today, Rwanda is a nation that knows where it is going,” she added, detailing the many areas in good governance, political and social economic development in which Rwanda has achieved exemplary performance.

"After building the fundamentals needed for development, the government set about fighting corruption and easing procedures and requirements for investing in Rwanda,” said Sebudandi.

"Now is your turn to invest at home and to spread the word about Rwanda’s trade and investment opportunities and unique tourism attractions,” she said.

The Chairman of the Rwandan Diaspora in Sweden, James Gatsinzi said the Rwandan community in the Nordic countries was aware of the investment potential in Rwanda and had responded by creating the Rwanda Nordic Diaspora Investment Group late last year.

"We can’t afford to be left behind while the country matches on and more people from across the world descend on Rwanda to take advantage of the conducive economic climate our government has built”, he said.

Sebudandi also briefed the gathering on current events in Rwanda and responded to questions from the Rwandans.

She warned that while a lot had been achieved, there was no room for complacency as "our targets are very high.

The Ambassador urged Rwandans in Diaspora to uphold their Rwandan cultural values and to teach their children the Kinyarwanda language and traditional dances.

The event was well attended by Rwandans and friends of Rwanda from across Sweden.

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