Trade between Rwanda and Sweden could be fast-tracked following a visit by the Swedish Finance minister, Anders Borg. The minister arrived in the country last evening and is expected to hold talks with several government officials. Maria Hakansson, the Chargé d’Affairs at the Swedish embassy in Kigali, said Borg’s is on a regional tour to assess economic developments, market potentials, investments opportunities, and discuss mechanisms to attract more Swedish investors to the region. “There are lots of investment opportunities in Rwanda that, once exploited, can boost economic development in both countries,” Hakansson told The New Times yesterday. She said the minister’s visit highlights the cordial bilateral relationships between the two countries. Borg is expected to meet, among others, his counterpart Amb. Claver Gatete and John Rwangombwa, the Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda, and representatives of the private sector. Last year, the Swedish government and its allies from Netherlands signed strategic financing agreements with the government of Rwanda that will see about Rwf37.6bn channelled into projects that can help reduce poverty in the country. Swedish support to Rwanda is said to be focused on reducing poverty, improving conditions for sustainable peace and reconciliation as well as greater respect for human rights. Sweden currently focuses on a number of sectors, including democracy and human rights, the environment and natural resources, as well as market development. The support also aims at strengthening domestic research capacity.
