Agriculture minister Agnes Kalibata leads a delegation to India to promote Rwanda as an investment destination of choice.

Clare Akamanzi, Chief Operating Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), told The New Times, during an interview that the highlight of the Rwandan visit will be a business road show co-organised with the Rwandan High Commission in India.

The road show will run until October 23 and will cover the three Indian cities of New Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai. The three cities were chosen because they are all commercially developed in technology, manufacturing and other sectors.

"The road show builds on the success of the October 2010 event which attracted more than 50 business delegations, some of which are already carrying out projects or still negotiating with the government,” Akamanzi said.

Since September 2010, about 50 successive groups of Indians investors have visited Rwanda. These include Rajesh Mining that has a mineral exploitation concession and Punj Lloyd, which is negotiating a power project with the government.

Also involved in arranging the highly anticipated visit is the Federation of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, which is based in New Delhi.

"The delegation seeks to inform Indian businesses about the compelling narrative of one of Africa’s most innovative countries, which is abundant in trade and business opportunities; latest home to India’s telecom giant, Airtel, and a country located bang in the middle of the commercial heartland of East and Central Africa,” reads part of a communiqué from the Rwandan High Commission in New Delhi.

Reports from India indicate that while building on a new business synergy between India and Africa, the two sides will explore business opportunities in agro-processing and packaging, construction, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing of textiles and garments, banking and financial services, as well as cooperation in mining and energy.

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