VILLAGE URUGWIRO =-The regional director of the World Bank has said that the board of directors of the bank last week recognized progress made by Rwanda over the past few years.
VILLAGE URUGWIRO - The regional director of the World Bank has said that the board of directors of the bank last week recognized progress made by Rwanda over the past few years.
Colin Bruce, who represents the WB in six regional countries, said this yesterday following his meeting with President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro, Kacyiru.
"I was passing on the compliments of the board to the President. There has been a lot of progress…the general sense of the international community is that Rwanda has done a commendable job," said Bruce.
He said that his institution was awed by Rwanda’s focus envisaged in the Economic Development for Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS).
The World Bank last week approved a $70m (approx. Frw38b) grant to help Rwanda in budget support.
"Part of my visit to Rwanda also will include exploring new areas where we can assist basing on what Rwanda has prioritized, and we are especially looking at energy, agriculture and decentralization, among others," he said.
Meanwhile, the President also received the newly appointed Director General of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), with whom they discussed the existing cooperation between Sweden and Rwanda and future partnerships.
"We specifically discussed what Rwanda stands to benefit from the regional integration and what assistance we can offer in this exercise," said Anders Nordstrom, the new SIDA boss.
He said that he would strive to further the budget support programme they are currently financing as well as continue to support some government institutions currently working with the Swedish organisation.
According to State Minister for Cooperation Rosemary Museminari, SIDA supports, among others, National Police and the Office of the Auditor General.
"We shall also continue to support civil society (groups) dealing in human rights promotion," said Nordstrom.
President Kagame also received in his office a group of students and faculty members of the US Air War College who are in the country on a four-day study tour.
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