Online reactions to the article ‘Thinking beyond Agaciro Development Fund’

Editor,Sunny Ntayombya (the author), if you talk about Urwibutso and Ameki going on the Stock Exchange yes I am with you ....but the investment on the convention centre, Bugesera airport and those big things like Kigali City Tower... I think that money is going to the waste, there is no need for a big hall convention centre or high-rise buildings.We really don’t need those kind of things, it is funny how Rwandans feel proud because of a tall tower and the sight of that tall empty thing makes them feel superior to other countries in the EAC with an impressive network of roads, streets or avenues.I think Rwandans should first start thinking as Rwandans, not as Singaporeans or Koreans; those Koreans build tall towers because there is an urgent need to have towers, not for cosmetic reasons or prestige. We have an urgent need of food, instead of building a huge airport somewhere in Bugesera, why don’t they use that land to plant some real food? We can export that food to our African neighbours. We don’t need a Heathrow type of airport in Bugesera!Rwanyonga, Kigali----------------------------------Editor,My brother Rwanyonga, your thoughts are valid but narrowed. We don’t build such stuff for prestige or comparison to our neighbours; we do it for ourselves. An investment of that turn is a decade of inflows in all kind of related services. Building an airplane that’s going to attract more flights from around the world and building a convention centre for international meetings is a worthy investment.Have you ever thought about how much is pumped into Tanzania’s economy from Arusha alone? Or what Jomo Kinyatta International Airport (JKIA) generates to Kenyan’s economy? The only problem here is appropriate investment and fund raising doubled by people with no information.Emma, Kigali-------------------------------------Editor,Sunny, I have always liked your articles but this one is just a master piece. The ideas are clear and practical in all aspects from an economics view point. Congratulations and keep on indulging us.Eugene Hagumaeugene.haguma@horizongroup.rw ----------------------------------------------- Editor,I do not agree with Rwanyonga. If we want to become a middle income country we need to think like Singaporeans and other advanced economies. Simply planting crops all over the city will not help us move forward. Big buildings address the growing needs for business people in the city and we need to think ahead, demand is growing.Or do we want to wait until all investors are here and we don’t have enough accommodation simply because we were farming the city.On the Agaciro Development Fund, I agree there is need to look at long-term financing options, including buying into projects, creation of an Agaciro bank or something like that where citizens have shares that reap some benefits, albeit minor as the main cause is patriotic. KB

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Online reactions to the article ‘Thinking beyond Agaciro Development Fund’