EU, Rwanda to sign grant worth Rwf56bn

KIGALI - The European Union (EU) will today sign with Rwanda five financing agreements to the tune of Rwf 56.5 billion (Euro 73.8 million) earmarked for Rwanda’s transport infrastructure, good governance and rural development sectors – the three focal areas of EU-Rwanda cooperation. Ambassador Michel Arrion, head of the EU delegation to Rwanda, confirmed this yesterday in a news conference at the Ministry of Finance as he briefed journalists on Europe Day, an annual EU celebration of peace and unity that is celebrated every May 9. “Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will sign five financing agreements amounting to a total 56,5 billion Rwandan francs going into the domain sectors of rural development, transport infrastructure and good governance,” said Ambassador Arrion. Half of these funds will be channelled through sector budget support. According to a joint communiqué, Rwf 15.3 billion and Rwf 3.5 billion will be allocated to decentralised agriculture and environment and natural resources, respectively. Another Rwf 9.2 billion will go to the areas of justice, reconciliation and law and order to promote good governance and the culture of peace Rwf 4.1bn is meant for Parliament to facilitate the monitoring of government programmes and contribute to guaranteeing the capacity and independence of the National Electoral Commission in organizing the 2010 and 2011 elections in accordance with regional and international standards. In transport infrastructure, Rwf 24.5 billion will finance the rehabilitation of the 78 km long Kigali-Gatuna road. This Northern Corridor linking Rwanda to Uganda, and the Kenyan port of Mombasa, will be enlarged to a width of seven metres to comply with EAC standards. Arrion, who was accompanied by Ronald Nkusi, the financial resources mobilization coordinator in the Ministry of Finance, spoke at length about the historical significance of Europe Day, and how Rwanda and other African economies “can draw lessons from it.” Ends