India has extended lines of credit (LoCs) worth $200 million to Rwanda as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the first Indian diplomatic mission will be opened in the East African nation.
India and Rwanda signed an agreement of $100 million for development of industrial parks and expansion of Special Economic Zones, and a similar amount for an agriculture irrigation scheme in that African nation, following delegation-level talks between PM Modi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Monday in Kigali.
During the talks, PM Modi held wide-ranging discussions with President Kagame and discussed measures to boost the bilateral strategic ties by strengthening cooperation in defence, trade and agriculture sectors.
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After the one-on-one talks with president Kagame, PM Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit the East African country, announced that India will soon open its mission in Rwanda.
Stating that India and Rwanda were looking forward to further elevate their ties, PM Modi, while addressing the media with Kagame, said: “Today, we signed agreements for $200 million for lines of credit and in the area of training.”
“We are going to open a High Commission in Rwanda. This will not only establish communication between our respective governments but also enable facilities for consular, passport, visa,” PM Modi said at a joint press statement. India’s current High Commissioner to Rwanda has residence in Uganda.
During our talks today, President @PaulKagame and I discussed new areas of India-Rwanda cooperation in sectors such as leather and dairy research.
We even talked about increasing people-to-people contacts between our nations. pic.twitter.com/DThKXXosRM
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2018
The prime minister noted that India and Rwanda relationships have stood the test of time.
“It is a matter of honour for us that India has stood with Rwanda in their economic development journey,” Modi said, adding that India will continue to back Rwanda’s development.
PM Modi had reached Kigali on Monday evening in the first leg of his three-nation tour of Africa that will also take him to Uganda and South Africa.
In his address, Modi appreciated the steps for peace that have been adopted in Rwanda following the mass genocide in that country in 1994.
Around 500,000 to one million people were killed in the mass genocide against the Tutsi people by the majority Hutu government of that time.
Following Monday’s bilateral talks, the two sides signed eight agreements, including in the areas of defence, agriculture and dairy production, trade and leather and allied sectors.
On his part, Kagame, in his address to the media, said that both sides discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global issues. He also thanked India for its development aid cooperation with Rwanda.
Held productive discussions with President @PaulKagame.
It is a matter of great joy that India and Rwanda are working together in areas like technology, infrastructure, finance, rural development and technology.
Today’s talks will further boost ties in these sectors. pic.twitter.com/Uq6s6XLOal
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2018
He also said that PM Modi’s visit represents a milestone between the long standing friendship and cooperation between Rwanda and India.
The prime minister’s aircraft landed at the Kigali International Airport where he was received by President Kagame. He was accorded a red carpet welcome at the airport.
His two-day state visit to Rwanda — one of Africa’s fastest growing economies — assumes significance as it could boost India’s strategic ties with this country.
(With inputs from agencies)