India, Rwanda sign 8 agreements

India and Rwanda signed eight agreements on July 23, 2018 following delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda.

Modi and Kagame held wide-ranging talks and discussed a host of measures to boost bilateral strategic ties. Addressing a joint press conference, Prime Minister Modi assured Rwanda that India will continue to back the African country’s development. Rwanda President said PM Modi’s visit represents a milestone between the two nations

Key Highlights

• The agreements were signed in the fields of defence, trade, agriculture, leather and allied products and dairy.

• India also extended two lines of credit (LoCs) worth $200 million to Rwanda:

- For the development of industrial parks and Kigali Special Economic Zone

- For the development of three agricultural projects in Rwanda

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced the opening of the first Indian diplomatic mission in the East African nation.

• The move will not only establish communication between the governments of the two countries but also enable facilities for consular, passport and visa.

• Besides this, a task force will be set up between the two countries to enable digital learning mediums for children.

Other Details

• Modi has become the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Rwanda when he landed in Kigali on the first leg of his three-nation tour to Africa. The Rwandan President personally received Modi at the airport.

• During his visit, the Prime Minister will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial which is the final resting place of more than 2 lakh 50,000 victims of Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda.

• Modi will also visit the Rweru Model Village where he would be donating 200 cows under the Girinka programme, a scheme initiated by President Kagame in response to the high rate of child malnutrition and as a means of accelerating poverty reduction and integrate livestock and crop farming.

• Modi would also be taking part in the India-Rwanda Business Forum.

Background

• The Prime Minister's visit to Rwanda is historic as Rwanda is an important gateway to Eastern Africa.

• India had elevated its bilateral relations with Rwanda to the level of a strategic partnership in January 2017.

• The Rwandan President is the current Chair of the African Union.

• From Rwanda, the Prime Minister will visit Uganda, before heading to Johannesburg in South Africa to attend the 10th BRICS Summit.

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