Kigali, Rwanda: During the talks with Rwanda President Paul Kagame Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed wide-ranging talks and measures to boost the bilateral strategic ties by strengthening cooperation in defense, trade and agriculture sectors. Along with that India India also decided to extend USD 200 million lines of credit to the East African State.

Prime Minister Modi, after the face to face talks with President Kagame, told that India is willing to open its mission in the country very soon. Modi is the first Prime Minister from India to visit Rwanda in an official capacity.

“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.

He acknowledged that both the countries have stood the test of time to maintain their relationships.

“It is a matter of honor for us that India has stood with Rwanda in their economic development journey,” PM Modi said, adding that India will continue to back Rwanda’s development.

The two leaders, after the one-to-one meeting, also participated in delegation-level meetings to strengthen partnership in sectors like trade and investment, development partnership, capacity building and people to people ties.

Both the countries inked several agreements over cooperation in the field of defense, agriculture, trade and animal resources.

Apart from the mentioned ones, they also agreed to cooperate in defense capacity building, industry, science, and technology.

They agreed on cooperation in defense capacity building, industry, science, and technology.

With respect to the lending of extended credit, India decided to extend two lines of credit, one being USD 100 million for development of industrial parks and Kigali special economic zone (SEZ) in Rwanda and another part for USD 100 million for the agriculture sector.

Both the sides inked several MoUs on collaboration in the sectors of leather and allied sectors, agricultural research, dairy cooperation and education collaborations between Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB).

The sides also agreed to diversify, facilitate and promote trade and economic cooperation.

Rwanda’s President Kagame told in his remarks during his speech that the Prime Minister’s visit is a symbolic milestone between the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Rwanda and India.

“A historic visit starts with a special gesture. President @PaulKagame personally welcomed PM @narendramodi to Rwanda,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.

The two-day visit to Rwanda by Prime Minister Modi assumes significance as it could help boost India’s strategic ties with this country. Rwanda is Africa’s fastest-growing economies.

“A special gesture by a close friend and a strategic partner! Prime Minister @narenderamodi personally received by Rwandan President @PaulKagame at #Kigali International Airport on the first leg of his three-nation tour. The first-ever visit by an Indian PM to Rwanda,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had tweeted.

The Indian Prime Minister is also slated to meet the business leaders and the Indian communities.

As of today, Prime Minister Modi will pay tribute at the Genocide Memorial and participate in an event on “Girinka”  (one cow per single family), a national social protection scheme of Rwanda started by Kagame.

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