Indian community marks Republic Day

Members of the Indian community in Rwanda yesterday converged at Utexrwa grounds to celebrate their country’s 65th Republic Day.Every year, Indians around the world meet on January 26, to mark the day their country promulgated a national constitution, three years after gaining independence from the British.Speaking to The New Times, a member of the Indian Association in Rwanda (INAR), Raj Rajendran, said: “As we celebrate this day, we are also celebrating our partnership with the Rwandan people and government. We have to keep in mind that our primary role is to contribute significantly to the development of this country.”He added that about 2,200 Indians living in Rwanda have an obligation to contribute to the local economy through their expertise and investments.“We employ over 10,000 Rwandans in our businesses, both large and small scale,” Rajendran said.Indians are also involved in several sectors, ranging from agro-business to education.At Utexrwa grounds, Indians marked the day by hoisting their national flag to cheers of hundreds of people who attended the event. “The Indian community stands with Rwandans as they commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi. We re-emphasise that never again should such an evil happen,” he said.The INARs Vice Chairperson Salim Mohammed is an Indian investor who has lived and worked in Rwanda for the past 14 years. He said the favourable environment in Rwanda has made him stay in the country.“I came to Rwanda as a medical practitioner but when I got here, I realised it was a stable country and there were opportunities in the agriculture sector so I switched, and I do not regret,” he said.

National

Indian community marks Republic Day