Belgian minister tours Northern Province

The Belgian Minister for Public Enterprises and Development Cooperation, Jean-Pascal Labille on Thursday toured Rulindo and Gakenke districts in Northern Province.

Friday, June 14, 2013
Labille and Northern Province Governor, Aime Bosenibamwe, tour a banana plantation. Saturday Times/ Jean du2019Amour Mbonyinshuti

The Belgian Minister for Public Enterprises and Development Cooperation, Jean-Pascal Labille on Thursday toured Rulindo and Gakenke districts in Northern Province.The minister, who was on his final day of his maiden visit to Rwanda, visited different projects funded by the Belgian government in the two districts. Some of the projects visited include a brick making cooperative and a local basket weavers’ association. According to Pierrine Kamagaju, the president of Intarushwa Association, a brick-making cooperative in Rusiga Sector, their association, which also makes tiles was started with the support of the Belgians."We got support and built a kiln and a hangar where bricks are kept, all this is thanks to the Belgian support,” said Kamagaju.Belgium has injected about Rwf 12million to support the project through Belgium Technical Cooperation (BTC). The cooperative comprises 81 members.  The minister said Rwanda and Belgium have a lot in common; "we must build the common future of the welfare of the population of both countries.” Earlier on Wednesday, Labille and the Minister for Finance, Amb. Claver Gatete, had signed agreements that would see Rwanda receive Euros 15m (Rwf13 billion) which will be used to support the public sector.