Rwanda, Netherlands to maintain close ties - envoy

Rwanda and The Netherlands have pledged to keep mutual close relations and cooperation across various areas, the outgoing Dutch envoy to Rwanda, Leoni Cuelenaere, has said. Cuelenaere, who has served as Dutch envoy to Rwanda since August 2012, made the remarks after bidding farewell to President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro, yesterday. She said there were numerous potential areas of cooperation, which, if exploited, would play a huge role in developing the two countries. Cuelenaere said she had discussed with the President areas of mutual cooperation and investment, adding that based on her experience during her tour of duty in Rwanda, she would gladly recommend the country to tourists and investors. The Netherlands is among Rwanda’s top development partners supporting areas, including water, food security, private sector development, judicial system and agriculture. In May, this year, the two governments signed two financing agreements totaling close to €44.9 million (about Rwf36 billion). The grants were to fund water projects and to implement quality technical and vocational education and training programmes. The Netherlands is also credited with playing an important role in facilitating post-Genocide justice, especially through the Gacaca courts.

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Rwanda, Netherlands to maintain close ties - envoy