Kigali to become AAR regional hub

GASABO - Kigali City is to accommodate the Africa Air Rescue (AAR) regional headquarters after securing an operating license from the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR). This was announced yesterday by the AAR Group Chief Executive Officer, Jagi Gakunju, in a press conference held at Novotel Hotel, Kigali. AAR is East Africa’s largest health management organisation that operates in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. Citing Rwanda as a growing ‘Switzerland of Africa’, Gakunju noted that this was the reason why AAR decided to locate its regional headquarters in the country’s capital, Kigali. “Rwanda is an island of peace. With supporting infrastructure, it fits being a regional catalyst to other countries like Uganda and Kenya,” he said. In November 2006, the company was suspended by the National Insurance Commission (NIC) which consequently saw AAR scaling down its operations in Rwanda. According to Gakunju, the company was elected upon receipt of official confirmation of certification by BNR. He said that through the consultative period, the company has remained optimistic to be enabled to resume provision of the much needed quality health care solutions in the country and the region. He noted that the company is working swiftly to step up capacity locally to ensure full operation in the region. Gakunju added that the challenges of Health care in Rwanda are similar to those experienced elsewhere on the continent. “Our priority will remain to ensure that we provide cost effective solutions that will lead to more Rwandan nationals being able to access quality health care solutions both locally and abroad,” he said. Gakunju lauded the leadership of the officials in Rwanda’s Ministry of Finance and Commerce, Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency, the Rwanda Private Sector Federation and the Kenya-Rwanda Business Association. AAR has over 10,000 members in the region of which 40 percent are individual members, while 60 percent are corporate members. Its corporate membership in Rwanda includes World Vision, BCR, Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). Ends