Key players in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Thursday met and pledged to adopt concrete measures to increase revenues from mineral resources.

Deputy Director Generals for each of the four departments of Rwanda Natural Resource Agency (RNRA) presented their achievements, challenges and plans in line with the country`s development agenda.

"We are putting in place measures to ensure increased mineral output so as to double revenues from mineral exports and increase employment in the sector, especially for youth and women,” said Dr Michael Biryabarema, the Deputy Director General Geology and Mines.

He noted that the good mineral prices on the international market played a significant role in the increase of revenues; adding that he is confident the target to earn $ 106m from mineral exports by 2012 will be achieved.

Eng. Didier G. Sagashya the Deputy Director General for Lands and Mapping, highlighted the developments and measures taken in land reforms.

"The demarcation exercise for all plots countrywide will be completed by 2012 and the process to register land in the registrar`s office has been brought down to ten days,” he said.

The Director General of RNRA, Emmanuel Nkurunziza, promised to support the departments overcome their challenges.

Speaking to The New Times, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Caroline Kayonga, said such meetings help to evaluate themselves and plan the way forward.

"It is through this system that we have been able to improve our performance, since we come together and explore solutions to our challenges as well as setting targets that must be achieved over a given time limit,” she said.

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