Kagame seeks stronger trade ties with Turkey

President Paul Kagame Thursday said Rwanda was keen to welcome more Turkish investors and that the friendship that had been established will facilitate good business between the two countries.The President was speaking at the Turkey-Rwanda Trade and Investment Forum on the second day of a working visit to Istanbul.“We are determined to translate these prospects into productive businesses that will benefit investors and at the same time contribute to the growth of our economy, which will ultimately lead to the transformation of the lives of our people,” he said, referring to the many opportunities presented at the forum by Rwanda Development Board officials.Kagame said that Rwanda has worked progressively to improve its investment climate in order to make it easy to do business and that the economy has responded well to reforms, growing at an average of around 8 per cent over the last decade. He also pointed out that Turkish investors to Rwanda could also look to the East African market of almost 130 million people, and the established customs union and common market that facilitates free movement of goods and services within that region.In an interactive session earlier on at the forum, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, spoke of the special relationship between Rwanda and Turkey and that it would help facilitate a future official agreement with the government of Turkey.Earlier in the day, President Kagame toured two major Turkish companies; the YDA construction industry and trade, and Nova, a design and manufacturing company.He later gave a live interview to a local Turkish TV network, Bugun TV, where he said he was impressed by Turkey’s rapid development and that Rwanda was committed to forging strong business ties with the country.

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Kagame seeks stronger trade ties with Turkey