Weekly Review

Kagame commends Blair Group President Paul Kagame was early this week quoted as saying that significant progress had been achieved in the areas of work quality, policy implementation, and skills sharing since the arrival of the Blair Group. Kagame who was addressing a joint press conference with former British Premier Tony Blair at Urugwiro Village appreciated Blair’s work in the areas of building capacity of government institutions, strengthening good governance, and attracting investments to Rwanda. President Kagame also noted that the type of partnership Rwanda has with the Blair Group, is different from the consultancy people are used to. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has been a special advisor to Rwanda for over a year. Government supports media growth The Minister of Information Louise Mushikiwabo pledged to accelerate the establishment of the Media Support Fund as part of the government initiative to boost private and public media houses. She made the remarks during celebrations to mark the International Press Freedom day celebrations held at the National University of Rwanda, in the Southern Province. Kivu oil survey extended The government in partnership with Vangold Ltd, a Canadian Oil, Gas and mineral corporation exploring for oil in the country, were reported this week to have agreed to extend the oil survey by another 90 days. Vangold has been reported in the press saying that after the 90 days, they will be able to demonstrate a potential for petroleum discovery similar to the new oil fields in Uganda. The oil exploration started in October 2007. Kwita Izina slated for June 20 The tourism department of the Rwanda Development Board has set the fifth edition of the Gorilla naming ceremony for June 20. The ceremony will be held at the foot of the Virunga Mountains. At the ceremony, 18 baby gorillas will be named. The theme of this year’s Kwita Izina will be “Celebrating the International Year of the Gorilla”. A series of activities are planned in the run up to this years’ Gorilla naming ceremony. RRA beats target Rwanda Revenue Authority has collected Rwf 95.9 billion in the first quarter of 2009, beating its target by 108 percent according to media reports this week. The revenue authority had targeted a tune of Rwf 88.2 billion from tax and non tax revenue compared to last year’s Rwf 71.8 billion collected in the first quarter of 2008. This has been attributed to the overall good performance of the economy. It was also reported that despite the increased revenue collection, the global financial crisis has not spared the body’s ability to collect revenue. ICG calls for action against FDLR A new report by the International Crisis Group calls for fresh joint military operations against the democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The report released on May 11, says that the situation in the eastern part of the DR Congo will not improve without a comprehensive strategy of ‘sustained political and result oriented” partnership between the DR Congo and the International Community. FDLR kills Congolese It was reported this week that the FDLR carried out raids in North Kivu in eastern DR Congo killing Congolese soldiers and civilians. This is the latest round of massacres carried out by the rag tag militia responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. RDB, wins deal with investors It was reported this week that Rwanda Development Board, the National Tea Board and the Rwandan Coffee Authority had signed a pact with two international companies to set up an organic fertilizer manufacturing plant in the country. The deal is reported to be worth over USD 5m.It is a joint venture with Olyana Holdings, an American firm and Kenya’s Athi River Mining Company to set up a plant to manufacture organic fertilizers, from lime. It is expected to increase coffee production in Rwanda. Ends