Diaspora converge in London for Rwanda Day

Hundreds of Rwandans are today expected to participate in the fourth Rwanda Day event scheduled to take place in London, UK. President Paul Kagame is expected to grace the function.During the event, 13 institutions from four different sectors in Rwanda will take part in an exhibition which will showcase the country’s progress. They include financial institutions, real estate and construction (mortgage), agro-processing and ICT and telecommunications.The Rwanda Day in London follows four similar events that took part in Boston, Chicago, Paris and Brussels.Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is taking part in the Rwanda Day and had already dispatched a team led by its Acting CEO, Claire Akamanzi to coordinate the exhibition activities.In an email to Saturday Times, the Head of the Investment Promotion and Implementation Department at the Rwanda Development Board, Vivian Kayitesi, who is attending the event, said an exhibition to showcase investment opportunities available in Rwanda was part of the planned activities. She also said the fair would provide a chance for Rwandans living abroad to learn about financial services, including sending back remittances, and investing in the property market. Remittances from Rwandans living abroad grew from US$42.8 million in 2005 to US$139 million in 2008, reaching about US$170 million by 2011.Also an interactive panel with young professionals and entrepreneurs from Rwanda and abroad will discuss the country’s development goals, business environment and opportunities.The theme for the Rwanda Day 2013 is ‘Agaciro: Delivering Prosperity,” and according to the organisers, the focus this year will be on economic development that allows every Rwandan to lead the life they deserve. The event will be streamed live on national radio and TV.Speaking to Saturday Times early this week, Ignatius Mugabo, one of the organisers, said that preparations were in high gear and Rwandans living in the UK and Europe at large had registered in high numbers.“So far those that registered to attend the event include1500 from UK, 754 from Belgium, 246 from France. There are others from Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, and over 200 from Rwanda, “Mugabo said yesterday via email.Also Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the UK, Williams Nkurunziza, told this paper in an early interview that there was excitement among the Rwandan community in the UK about the opportunity to host this year’s Rwanda Day.“Across the whole country, preparations are in full swing, driven by community leaders in 12 cities with major concentrations of Rwandan communities. The London edition of Rwanda Day has also attracted significant interest from mainland Europe,” said Nkurunziza.The events are mainly aimed at facilitating the Diaspora to learn about Rwanda’s progress towards socio-economic transformation and the role of Rwandans abroad in shaping Rwanda’s future, strengthening networks between Rwandans and friends of Rwanda across the world, and presenting business, investment, career and other opportunities to Rwandans and friends of Rwanda around the world.

National

Diaspora converge in London for Rwanda Day