President Paul Kagame yesterday met and held talks with a group of investors who are in the country on a two-day visit aimed at identifying different investment opportunities. The delegation led by Marc Holtzman, the Vice President of the Barclays Investment Capital, was visiting as a follow up on the investors’ meeting with the President held during his working visit to the UK in September this year. In an interview with the press shortly after the meeting, Holtzman described the talks as ‘highly successful’, adding that Rwanda has quickly registered dynamic and effective reforms. “Foreign investors are paying very careful attention to Rwanda, thanks to the President’s dynamic and inspirational leadership. Foreign investors are very excited about the economic growth that is taking place here,” he told reporters. Holtzman, who has been to Rwanda several times, added that the seven-man delegation appreciated the country’s stability and the effective pace of the reforms as well as the rapid growth. “This delegation represents billions of dollars, and we are looking at opportunities in agriculture, mining, energy, tourism and numerous other sectors,” he said The investors, who come from internationally renowned companies that deal in among other areas, mining, agriculture and business financing, will meet with government officials in ministries in charge of finance, energy, mining and agriculture. Dexter Paine, a partner with Paine & Partners, a global $4 billion private equity fund focusing on the agriculture sector, also expressed optimism of investing in the country. “We invest primarily in agriculture. We are looking at different ways of how we can invest capital into Rwanda,” Paine said. State Minister in charge of Environment, Water and Mines, Vincent Karega, said that the group of investors operates together, and that they are already working in countries like the UK, Australia, Russia, Ghana, and Tanzania. “They are still looking at different opportunities available here. They have keen interest in working in Rwanda because they have liked our system of governance, and the very good steps taken so far,” the minister said. Ends
