Rwangombwa deserved the Minister of the Year award

Editor,I wish to congratulate Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. John Rwangombwa, upon being named the Finance Minister of the Year 2012 for Sub-Saharan Africa by Emerging Markets and HSBC Bank.The minister was rightly honoured for keeping Rwanda’s economy afloat despite the prevalent external shocks, including the global economic downturn, with the economy growing at an average of 8.2 per cent over the past few years.At the same time, the country managed to drastically reduce poverty levels, from 57 per cent in 2006, to 45 per cent in 2011, lifting more than a million people from poverty in the process.Today, thanks to prudent fiscal measures and consistency in promoting key foreign exchange earners and diversifying the economy, Rwanda remains on course to achieving most of its development targets, despite the uncertainties that continue to characterise international markets, as well as the increasingly unreliable foreign funding.By any measure, Rwanda’s economy is performing well beyond the average and, therefore, recognising the country’s minister of finance and his team is a step in the right direction.Also worth a mention are the hardworking people of Rwanda, whose work ethic has moved strides in recent years, with many young Rwandans embracing entrepreneurship.I also wish to thank the government of Rwanda in general for presiding over one of the fastest growing economies in the world – despite limited resources and countless competing priorities.Edward RulisaKigali

Opinions

Rwangombwa deserved the Minister of the Year award