The Minister’s comments were presented while she attended the opening of the second edition of the New York Forum Africa that kicked off Friday 14^th June 2013 in Libreville, Gabon.

In her remarks, Mushikiwabo said “Such awareness must have been raised after we had experienced chaos.”

Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister was accompanied by official from the Rwanda Development Board.

More than 700 people are attending the second New York Forum Africa, including seven African heads of state, six of whom are from the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) which holds on Friday its summit on the sidelines of the event.

the New York Forum Africa is the largest annual gathering bringing together policy makers and experts willing to join efforts for a stable, prosperous, innovative and successful Africa to play a leading role in the new world order.

The forum also featured speeches by several high-ranking personalities from across the globe, including France’s ex-Foreign Affairs minister, Hubert Vedrine among others.

The meeting will be essential in coming up with resolutions that will be discussed at the upcoming Central African economic forum- Communauté Economique et Monétaire des Etats d’Afrique Centrale ( CEMAC) meeting- whose resolves will be presented at the next G8 summit.

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Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Ambassador Claver Gatete has said that Rwanda’s economic performance for the financial year 2013-2014 will be highly propelled by a drive to self reliance and restoring Rwanda’s dignity.

Gatete read the final budget proposal which has had some slight changes in the initially draft budget that was proposed to parliament this may 2013. The 2013-14 Expenditure plan is ambitious with Rwf1.65trillion Rwandan francs compared to over Rwf1.5trillion from last year.

“The total domestic revenues for the period are estimated at 994.9 billion Rwandan francs which is 60.2 percent of the total budget. External resources account for only 39.8 percent of the total budget or 658.6 billion francs” the minister said.

The minister said that despite the uncertain world economic climate, Rwanda was in good position to handle it development targets based on internal revenues collected, the solidarity fund (Agaciro) development fund- which has Rwf26.4billions in contributions, and Rwf17.5 billions already deposited

Gatate also said that despite the economic shock early as a result of suspension in donor aid, Rwanda will also be in position to perform well since the donor funds have been slowly released and acquired over 300billions in sold treasury bonds.

He said that there are high expectations since the regional economies have been performing well and will not be deeply affected by the world crisis (estimated 5% impact) and Rwanda has managed to handle to inflation (reduced 8.3% to at least 3.2%) and it is predicated that the country’s economy will remain stable.

Gatete highlighted the achievements of the previous budget stating that more than 92% of the fiscal year 2012/13 has been implemented. Whilst low budget execution was witnessed during the first half of the year, this accelerated during the end of the third quarter of the fiscal year.

Rwanda was also ranked among the 10 rapidly growing economies on international level in terms of rapid growth, with 8.2% over 1million out of poverty eradication. This is a milestone and historical achievements in Rwanda, he said.

“Our target is to strive for excellence and self reliance is the goal of economic development as a a fact of addressing the trends in economic climate – as a way of increasing development through increase exports incomes and taxations revenue” he noted.

The budget has also knocked an increase in taxes on some commodities which have been non-taxable in Rwanda. The commodities affected in this line include: construction material, and ICT equipment- which have been at zero taxation and now will be at 20% taxation rate.

Projections- Tax revenues are projected to grow by an average of 0.2% of GDP for the 2013/14 fiscal year and the medium term. Overall total outlays are projected to decline in the medium term with current expenditures averaging 13.3% of GDP against 14.2% for development expenditure. Overall cash deficit is also projected to decline from 6.1% of GDP in 2012/2013 to 3.1% by 2015/16.

The parliament noted that there is need to make clear and explicitly elaborate the taxation exercise and ensure an improved informal sector so as to create capacity for managing the tax collections and value of goods exported.

The parliament also said that the budget should also ensure the implementation rural development and especially addressing the priority areas of residents in high risk zones, increased agricultural production, and improved savings culture as a way of Striving for self reliance & Dignity.

Minister Gatate however noted the taxation won’t change so much since there are tax policies, which will focus on use of e-filling and better services in tax payments and electronic single window. However new tax changes will mainly be on minerals, ICT equipment and building materials and revision on the double taxation avoidance between rwanda and Comoros islands

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Manneh said that in order to prevent further waste, governments, development agencies and organisation like the UN must work together to help change people’s mind-sets on waste and discourage wasteful practices by farmers, traders, supermarkets and consumers

Manneh made the remarks in his message at the event of celebrating the World Environment Day – which is celebrated annually on 5th June by people across the globe. The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment.

This year’s theme for the World Environment Day celebrations is Think.Eat.Save. Reduce Your Foodprint. It’s focus is on the Save Food Initiative, which is a broad partnership including UNEP, FAO, and in support of the UN Secretary-General’s Zero Hunger Challenge, which was launched last year at the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development.

“Given the high population and the increased demand of the resources available, it is paramount to ensure that we manage the food we produce in a sustainable manner without much loss and waste” Manneh said, Food loss and waste is something we can all address. With relative ease and a few simple changes to our habits, we can significantly shift this paradigm”

That is why this year’s campaign aims to raise global awareness and showcase solutions relevant to developed and developing countries alike.

Manneh argued that infrastructural and technological development in low–income countries will help reduce the amount of food that perishes after it is harvested and before it reaches the market.

As for developed nations they can support fair trade and rationalize sell-by dates and other labelling systems; businesses can revise their criteria for rejecting produce; and consumers can minimize waste by buying only what they need and re-using left-over food.

“In avoiding food waste, there is actually more that would be gained by it than a mere reduction in its ‘footprint’” he said.

In fact, the global food production occupies 25% of all habitable land and is responsible for 70% of fresh water consumption, 80% of deforestation, and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions.

On this World Environment Day, all actors in the global food chain are urged to take responsibility for environmentally sustainable and socially equitable food systems.

Although the current global population of approximately seven billion is expected to grow to nine billion by 2050, the number of hungry people need not increase.

“By reducing food waste, we can save money and resources, minimize environmental impacts and, most importantly, move towards a world where everyone has enough to eat” he noted.

The UN has been supporting the efforts by the Government of Rwanda to implement activities related to ecosystem management, soil fertility and erosion control, improved quality of water resources, biodiversity conservation and livelihood diversification which have helped to increase food production.

The Government of Rwanda has also developed a strategic plan for the transformation of agriculture with an intention of increasing crop and livestock production, enhanced irrigation and water management, boast marketing, entrepreneurship and value chains, research as well as mainstreaming environment in agriculture.

Increasing agricultural production and marketing of the produce is also a priority in the EDPRS II as part of rural development vision.

The UN (WFP) supported the ministry of Agriculture (Minagri) in training cooperatives and extension staff in post-harvest handling and storage as well with the investment in rural facilities such as drying floors, warehouses, and product quality testing kits.

Tags for promotion: Rwanda-One UN-Food Secuirty- World Environment Day- Lamin M. Manneh-Message-2013

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The German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dirk Niebel, has said that Rwanda should continue getting financial support from donor communities considering the country’s growing dynamic and potential of becoming a driving force in the economic and political integration of the Great Lakes region

In February, 2013, the German government unfroze aid to Rwanda worth Euro 21 million- about Rwf17.5 billion, six months after suspending it over a controversial and contested UN Experts report that claimed that Rwanda supported the M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo.

Niebel also said that Rwanda’s success in the region is of great influence to “influence and repositioning the region’s development strategies since Rwanda was in the lead on socio-economic progress and political stability.

He said “the relationship between the two countries should grow deeper and stronger and we would like to see German investors come to Rwanda in the process. This is because Rwanda has made significant and commendable growth and progress in the economy and ensuring political and regional security”, Niebel said.

Niebel reaffirmed Germans continued support to Rwandans and encouraged the government of Rwanda to continue playing a constructive role for peace and security and fostering  political and economic integration of the Great Lakes Region.

German was the first European country to resume normal development partnerships with Rwanda, after many donor communities withheld their funding programmes. Germany has also campaigned for others, including multilateral organizations to follow suit, said

The two countries have had a commended bilateral relationship and partnership (Jumelage) which has steered Rwanda’s development programmes in technical and vocational training, public financial management, plus trade and investment.

Since the economic cooperation began in 1962, Germany has so far made available Euros 642 million (Rwf537.7bn) in development cooperation.

German Development Minister Dirk Niebel also visited Uganda where he also said that like Rwanda, Uganda had also major progress in development in recent years to become an engine for economic and political integration in Africa’s Great Lakes region.

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Rwanda Revenue Authority has been ranked as the best performing tax body in the last ten months in the East African region, according to a report published in Uganda Revenue Authority’s regional revenue report.

The report indicates that from July 2012 to April 2013, Rwanda Revenue Authority registered a performance of 100 per cent in gross revenue mobilisation, Uganda Revenue Authority posted 97 per cent and Kenya Revenue Authority registered a 90 per cent.

Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has made a 20 per cent rise in tax collection for the last nine months, compared to the previous year, on the back of strong economic growth and easy payment system.

The institution collected Rwf419 billion between July 2011 and March 2012. Total revenues, including non tax revenue collected exceeded the target by 7.8 per cent to Rwf 428.4 billion. The Authority collected about Rwf317.8b during the first semester of 2012/13 surpassing the target of Rwf313.6b- making a 15.6 per cent rise from the Rwf304 billion collected during the same period last year.

The improvement is attributed to strong economic performance registered and recovery of domestic arrears. The success in Rwanda’s tax collection has been attributed to education and training of tax payers, enforcement and putting up systems that enable tax payer to conduct their business transactions and pay taxes on a timely basis.

The 2013 World Bank report on Doing Business in East Africa Community (EAC) also ranked Rwanda as the best country for doing business, due to its policy in the investment sector. The Baseline Profitability Index (BPI), published by the Foreign Policy Magazine, has ranked Rwanda among the top 10 countries best destination for investment in the world.

Rwanda has also made tremendous progress in enabling the tax payers to access taxations services easily especially the electronic billing systems. Taxpayers registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) are now obliged by law to issue tax receipts using electronic billing machines certified by RRA. The initiative is one of the new measures to assist taxpayers in proper book keeping and sales management.

Rwanda Revenue Authority statistics indicate that over 5,000 businesses are VAT-registered, but about 30per cent of them evade taxes, which affect the management of tax collection in the country, according Celestin Bubakare, the commissioner for domestic taxes.

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) intercepted goods smuggled into the country worth over Rwf4 billion since 2007.

Rwanda has been an economic success story. Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth averaged above 8 percent per year in the last decade; inflation has been subdued since 2009; foreign reserves have been kept at adequate levels; poverty based on the household living conditions survey declined from about 57 percent in 2005/06 to below 45 percent in 2010/11; and income inequality declined notably.

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Rwanda has reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating poverty and having none of the citizens living below the poverty line. The Minister of Local government James Musoni says that target will be met by the year 2020, considering the existing policies reflected in the development strategies.

Musoni’s remarks come after the release of a Commonwealth report, based on the 12 Aberdeen Principles, stated that with the decentralization progress in Rwanda, local governments units have been capable of handling complex tasks, which were previously unheard of before.

Some of the policies that emerged from the decentralization implementation programme since 2000 indicate that Rwanda has succeeded in holding on and implementing core values for promoting local democracy and good governance.

Some of the initiatives coming from this progress include: performance contracts (Imihigo) and National Dialogue (Umushyikirano) and other home grown solutions were considered to be the best practices needed in good governance system.

The decentralisation implementation programme, which is being implemented in three phases, began in 2000 and was first put into action in 2001. the first phase of decentralization, that ran from 2001 to 2005, saw the promulgation of enabling laws, establishment of service delivery structures, and the first ever democratically elected local government leadership.

The second, from 2006 to 2010, was a turning point in the decentralisation agenda where institutional and organisational restructuring of local governments was carried out to streamline better service delivery.

The third phase which runs from 2011-2015 is expected to improve and sustain the achievements made in the first two phases.

The Minister for Local Government, Musoni said the study corresponds with what is on the ground and it is through such best practices that Rwanda will not have any citizen living below that poverty line by the year 2020.

Rwanda has managed to reduce its poverty line margin from 56.7% in 2006 to

44.9% 2011 according to World Bank statistics, which makes at least one million Rwandans managing to make a better living in the last couple of years.

Some of the residents have highlighted the extent to which such decentralization and development programmes, such as the one cow per family, health insurance, community development funds, to mention but a few; have changed in the lives.

“We have built a good house, our children are nourished. When you feed well you think better. We have water and electricity home” says Daphrose Nyirabapagasi, anMusanze.
“Before Mutuelle de Sante, I used herbs for treatment when I got sick. But today, I receive proper medical treatment” adds Charlotte Uwineza, of Musanze ditstrict.

The challenge ahead

Though the country faces critics on its policies, Rwanda seems to have dealt with the issues of good governance and coming up with policies that have increased investment and a conducive business environment, even after the country undergoing a genocide in 1994 that is attributed to bad leadership and divisions.

As part of making another the stride ahead, Rwanda strives to become a knowledge based economy, and she has biggest part of the 2013-2014 budget has been allocated to semantic areas-which is in three parts and amounting to Rwf818.8billion (50%), as reflected in Rwanda’s second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS 2) that is founded on pillars of economic transformation and poverty reduction by the year 2017.

In this case, economic transformation was allocated Rwf511.4 billion (31%). This allocation will focus on agriculture transformation, increase in exports, infrastructure development and driving-off off farm jobs through creation of secondary cities.

Followed by rural development, with Rwf161.4 billion (10%) allocation will be channeled to integrated land approach to land use and rural settlement, increase in agriculture productivity, integrated social protection programs and connecting rural populations to economic opportunity through improved infrastructure.

While productivity and youth employment pillar will take up Rwf104.5 billion (6%) and it will be used to increase off- farm jobs, develop skills and link them to labor markets.

Apparently Rwf40.8 billion (3%) allocated to accountable governance will be used to strengthen citizen participation in delivery of development, improved accountability, service delivery and security.

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The newly appointed World Bank Country Director, Diariétou Gaye has expressed satisfaction with the existing cooperation and partnership between Rwanda and the World Bank Group.

“It is a pleasant job to work with the Government of Rwanda, we can see the result of our work on ground” Gaye said.

Gaye made the remarks while paying a courtesy call to Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi this 22 May 2013. Gaye is the World Bank Country Director in charge of Rwanda, Kenya and Erithrea with her office in Nairobi.

Premier pointed out that the Government is committed to work closely with the World Bank for the benefit of the people of Rwanda and appreciated the good partnership and support of the World Bank that match with the Government priorities.

In a related development, the Minister Agnes Kalibata, who also received the World Bank representative at the ministry this May 21, 2013; congratulated and welcomed her to the support of the Ministry of Agriculture & Animal Resources. She expressed her enthusiasm for working closely together in the future.

World Bank has also maintained a long relationship with Rwanda, especially with the Ministry of Agriculture & Animal Resources. Two of its most notable support projects to the agriculture sector based in Rwanda are the Rural Sector Support Project (RSSP), which began in 2001, and the Land Husbandry, Water Harvesting, and Hillside Irrigation Project (LWH), started in 2010.

Because of these World Bank interventions and collaborations, over 6,500 hectares of marshlands have been rehabilitated or developed, and about 26,000 hectares of hillsides have been sustainably developed. Yields of various crops have improved drastically, and access to markets has been improved.

Rwanda has also proved it worth with a growing economy at the rate of 8% in the last five years according to its poverty reduction strategy, despite the shortfall in donor funding. The World Bank 2013 report on Doing Business in EAC released this May 2, ranked Rwanda as the most favorable place to do business and stated that it’s much easier and faster in Rwanda to register a business than it is in any of its neighbors in the East African Community (EAC) according

The World Bank Group mission to the Great Lakes region, the World Bank Group has also announced $1 billion in proposed new funding to help countries in the region to provide better health and education services, generate more cross-border trade, and fund hydroelectricity projects.

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Rwandan exporters will continue to enjoy easy and reliable air cargo services from Kigali to Istanbul, courtesy of Turkish Airlines once the airliner launched its services in Rwanda this June 2013.

Rwanda and Turkey have continued to develop a business relationship since president Paul Kagame’s visit to Turkey that sparked-off profound business collaboration between the two countries- which also share some common aspects in culture

Turkish Airlines service started operation in Kigali, Rwanda last year adding Rwanda to their growing list of destinations, offering a service that will fly 3-4 times a week between Istanbul and Kigali during the initial launch period.

According to Burchin Isler, the Turkish airlines Country Director in Rwanda, the cargo service will enable Rwandan exporters to easily manage to access and expand their trade activities into the Europe and across Asia.

“Our job will be to facilitate business men and women to access the world markets. Our cargo plane is brand new from Airbus, with capacity of 64tons and its first air route from the manufacturer will be straight to Rwanda” he said.

Burchin noted that this program was supposed to be launched in May but due to some delays the new plane will be delivered and the services launched on June 3, 2013.

Apparently, a delegation of Twenty nine Rwandan businessmen led by Minister of Trade and Industry, François Kanimba is currently attending the Rwanda-Turkey Business Forum and Exhibition scheduled to be held in Istanbul, Turkey starting from 18th to 23nd May, 2013

Kagame’s visit to Turkey has sparked-off profound business collaboration between the two countries- which also share some common aspects in culture. Various Turkish investors, including the world class airline-Turkish Airlines, have invested in Rwanda. Other Turkish organizations and operations in Rwanda today, include education, hides and skins business among others.

Rwandans have opportunity of trading with Turkish people in areas of real estate and construction business- which is one of the highly developed sectors in turkey.

This May, 2013, the Rwandan business community has also been blessed with a cargo service that was initiated after a new agreement was signed between the Ethiopian Cargo and RwandAir, Rwanda Development Board and traders, to transport at least 30 tonnes of Rwanda’s exports to Brazzaville twice a week.

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Another group of about 90 students from Rwandan universities will be selected by the ministry of Agriculture, to attend internship studies at the AgroStudies, International Center for Agricultural Interns in Israel

The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Agnes Kalibata said the Rwandan students will leave for Israel beginning in the new school year, October 2013.

This announcement comes after the CEO of AgroStudies, Yaron Tamir and Head of International & Student Relations Inbal Shoval on May 20th, 2013, visited the ministry to discuss the parameters of the internship program and its benefits to the students of Rwanda.

Last year, in October 2012, a group of 30 students selected from two Rwanda Universities- ISAE Busogo and Umutara Polytechnic University were admitted to follow their internship in Horticulture in Israel.

Minister Kalibata says that the internship program comes at the perfect time; one of the biggest challenges in Rwanda and its agriculture sector is capacity development.

“This internship program will provide huge benefits to the youth of the country. As the next generation, investing in youth means ensuring a good future for Rwanda, especially for the agriculture sector, which is viewed as a high priority for the country in its development and international success,” she said

Kalibata also stated that learning from other countries and drawing from international lessons equips students with multiple perspectives and a greater ability to transform Rwanda.

The internship comes from the MOU signed between the ministry of Agricuture and Agro Studies Institution which represents the Government of Israel in July, 2012.

“Agro Studies” is the biggest institution in Israel that deals with Agriculture and has developed the sector despite the small arable land challenge that the country is facing.
Agro Studies offers the training to 500 students from 6 countries and this year the number will increase to 650 students and they accepted that among them 30 will be from Rwanda.

Agro studies offer several courses in Poultry, Aquaculture, Apiculture and Horticulture. The course they offer is divided into two programs: Theoretical class learning program  and practical training  where students go into farms for practical skills .

The program gathers students from South Asian and African countries including the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, India, Vietnam, Rwanda, Togo, Borkina Faso, and Ivory Coast to Israel, offering a program that combines practical training and theoretical studies in one or more various agricultural fields.

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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the President of the World Bank Group Jim Yong Kim, make this week a historic visit to the Great Lakes region in Africa. The purpose of their visit is to show their support for the recent peace agreement and support the economic development of the region.

The duo visited DR Congo ahead of their arrival in Rwanda on May 23. They will also proceed to Uganda; and hold meetings with the each Heads of State in each of the countries respectively.

In Rwanda, a country that has made significant progress over the last ten years in governance and increased its growth rate of 1% in 2003 to 8.2% in 2013, will meet President Paul Kagame and members of the government.

They will also have the opportunity to meet with ex-combatants and to know and more about the efforts to ensure the demobilization and reintegration of all men and women who now return to their home communities after years of conflict.

“The leaders of the Great Lakes region will be key enablers of peace, stability and economic growth,” said Mr. Kim. “We are committed to us that the United Nations and the World Bank Group are working closely together in new and more advanced means, following the impetus given by the country. We must ensure that the implementation of the political and security aspects of the framework agreement goes hand in hand with economic development which is essential to a lasting peace and stability. ”

Moon also stated that this new, large-scale approach to peace provides the DRC and the Great Lakes region’s best hope of peace they have known for many years, but insisted on action.

“The commitments on paper must translate into action on the ground. A peace agreement must produce a peace dividend in the form of development, opportunity and hope for people who have suffered too long” the UN Secretary General said.

The Great Lakes region in Africa has seen its situation destabilized by the conflict that has raged for several years in the DRC and has also spread to neighboring countries. The destruction of infrastructure that resulted had the effect of reducing the supply of electricity and damage of major trade routes. This instability has also prevented the country to be able to provide all the basic services to their populations and fragile health systems and education, while causing an increase in unemployment and a slowdown in growth economic.
Despite these problems, the countries of the region are now working vigorously to ensure their reconstruction, to improve governance and to invest in their human and natural resources with the support of the United Nations and the Bank Group World.
For its part, the Bank Group is working closely with the national authorities, the private sector and international partners in these countries to support the reconstruction effort and help them achieve their development goals. To date, investments in support of development programs undertaken and totaled approximately $ 6.7 billion in the DRC, Rwanda 2.5 billion and $ 7.3 billion in Uganda.

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