India bureau of Consular Affairs unveiled

The Indian High Commissioner to Rwanda, Soumen Ray, Friday evening formally unveiled the new premises of the consular affairs in Kigali. The envoy who permanently resides in Kampala-Uganda, told The Sunday Times that the office will mostly receive, review and adjudicate visa applications before they are taken to the embassy in Kampala for stamping. “Initially we had a bureau office here in Kigali but it wasn’t active, many Rwandans have been coming all the way to Kampala to process their visas which was so tiresome for them and costly,” he said. Ray mentioned that the office will also provide a wide range of services for the people travelling to India and vice versa. The High Commissioner commended the Indian Association of Rwanda (INAR) for their effort to enhance Indo-Rwanda bilateral cooperation. He assured INAR of collaboration and facilitation in cementing relations between the two countries. Ray hailed the leadership of Rwanda for the tremendous developments taking place, adding that it should serve as a role model for other post conflict countries. The new consular office will be managed and run by the management of INAR, an umbrella association of the Indian community in Rwanda. Joseph Sebastian, the Vice Chairman INAR said that the new office will address all concerns regarding the Indo-Rwanda bilateral relations. “There are many Indians in Rwanda, close to 1,500. It was necessary to have the consular office that will handle their issues,” he noted. Sebastian said that many Rwandan students go to India for education and the bureau will assist them in processing the required documents. frank.kanyesigye@newtimes.co.rw