Kagame meets Belgian Minister, Korea Telecom executive

President Paul Kagame yesterday met the Belgian Minister for Public Enterprises and Development Cooperation, Jean-Pascal Labille, who is in the country for on a two-day visit.The two discussed issues pertaining the strengthening of bilateral ties, including the importance of Belgian supported projects in the country.During his visit to Rwanda, the Belgian Minister signed a Rwf13 billion agreement with the Ministry of Finance to support various projects, especially in the health sector.In a separate event, the President also met Yung Kim, the Korea Telecom chief strategy officer, who briefed him on the way forward for the building of a 4G LTE network across the country.Korea Telecom entered a joint venture agreement with Rwanda to build the high-speed internet and wireless network that will provide affordable services to ordinary Rwandans across the country.The agreement says Korea Telecom will inject $140m (about Rwf91 billion) in infrastructure and expertise, while government will provide fibre optic network assets, spectrum and a wholesale licence. “We discussed with the President about how quickly we can build this broadband in Rwanda. In the next three months, we agreed to put a joint force that will oversee plans of implementation and other developments where Korea can facilitate,” Yung Kim told journalists after his meeting with Kagame.The 4G LTE project is expected to cost about US$260 million (Rwf169 billion) and will complement the existing national broadband that has facilitated electronic applications in governance, banking, learning and healthcare.“Korea and Rwanda share a fruitful relationship as has been demonstrated in the partnership to build the fastest broadband network on the continent. As the President observed in during the discussions, this (4G network) will serve Rwandans for years to come,” Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the minister for youth and ICT said.

National

Kagame meets Belgian Minister, Korea Telecom executive