EU rewards Rwanda with aid increment

NYARUGENGE - The European Union (EU) has announced a 30 percent aid increment to Rwanda after the country was found to be one of the best users of the union’s aid.This was disclosed on Thursday by the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, during the inauguration of the renovated Ministry of Finance headquarters in Kigali.Michel said that the EU has listed Rwanda among the three best performers in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. He was in Rwanda to attend the just concluded ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.The EU official said: “The EU evaluated all countries that benefit from its financial aid and Rwanda was among the best three countries.”“We have established a new programme of increasing our aid by 30 percent to the best performer; it has never happened in the history of EU. Rwanda is among the first beneficiaries of this great increment.” He asked Rwanda to identify its suitable projects into which donations should be injected.there are no conditions at all and 80 percent of the funds would be channeled directly into the budget,” he said“I’m proud of this country; Rwanda’s performance means more money, more efficiency and more easy access to foreign aid,” he added.The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, James Musoni said: “For a donor to channel such a big percentage (of money) to the budget means that you have effectively and efficiently used well each coin of the money you got from them and we have done so.”In the last five years, the EU has given Rwanda 189 million euros (approx. Frw152.2b) in aid, the minister said. The development therefore means that the amount would increase to 290 million euros (approx. Frw233.4b) in the next five years. “80 percent of the 290 million euros which includes the 30 percent increment will be put in the budget,” Musoni said. Meanwhile the Canadian government has contributed $2.9 million to ‘Right to Play’ a child-help international Non Government Organisation. Ends

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EU rewards Rwanda with aid increment