Investment is the way forward, Kagame tells Rusizi residents

President Paul Kagame yesterday urged Rusizi residents to pool resources and invest in the district as a way to address their financial challenges and benefit from the growing business sector.The President made the remarks at the end of a three-day tour of the Western Province. Rusizi is a border town that links Rwanda to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burindi.The President told the residents, who had gathered at Kamembe Stadium in Rusizi, that they can draw resources from within themselves to invest and develop the district even more. He said if they pooled resources they can enter joint ventures and set up large investments, including a five-star hotel which the district needs.Rusizi and its neighbouring district Nyamasheke have rich tourist attractions. The Nyungwe forest and its famous canopy walk are favourites among both local and foreign tourists.The district also has a large cement factory, tea and rice plantations and being a border district, the available trade opportunities attract business men and women who would be potential clients for the hotel. The President encouraged the residents to take full advantage of the border and do business with their neighbours, observing that trade between Rwanda and the DRC existed long before the borderlines were established.More government supportHe pledged more support from government to boost trade, noting infrastructure development and electricity roll-out as some of the areas the State will facilitate. President Kagame met with members of the private sector in the area and toured some of their businesses. The President visited Top View Hill Nyungwe Hotel owned by Germaine Tuyisabe.Rwanda Development Bank has 47 per cent shares in the Rwf900m hotel that is located in Gisakura Sector at the entrance of Nyungwe Forest. The Mayor of Rusizi, Oscar Nizeyimana, highlighted how the district has progressed remarkably in various areas, including agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing, with some of the products consumed locally. “Currently, we are working with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to establish an industrial park where all factories will be based,” the mayor said, pointing out that the district is not short of financial institutions.The central bank has a branch, 11 commercial banks set up shop as well as 25 micro finance institutions.“We thank the President for his encouragement to build a five-star hotel here. We will give land to investors,” the mayor said.During his three-day tour of the Western Province, the President got to hear first-hand accounts from the beneficiaries of various government programmes about how their lives have improved remarkably.The residents mostly pointed out the cattle stocking programme (Girinka) and the housing programme (Bye Bye Nyakatsi) as examples that have changed people’s lives for the better.

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Investment is the way forward, Kagame tells Rusizi residents