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Rwanda | Economy and Infrastructure News

63K views 208 replies 45 participants last post by  Nyumba 
#1 ·
Societe Tunisienne del L’Electricite et du Gaz, or STEG, signed a $68.6 million contract to connect 50,000 households to Rwanda’s electricity grid.

STEG will build the electricity network over two year, while Rwanda pays in installments over five years, Yves Muyange, managing director of Rwanda’s electricity and water utility, said by phone from the capital, Kigali, today.

The project is part of a $380 million program to increase the number of households with electricity to 350,000 from 110,000 as of June. The program is being financed by the government and its development partners, Muyange said.

“The project is part of government efforts to connect 50 percent of the population by 2017,” Muyange told reporters after signing the project agreement on Nov. 23.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-...6-million-electricity-contract-in-rwanda.html
 
#93 ·
allAfrica: Rwanda Sets New Ambitious Targets for the Export Sector

Rwanda's export sector will have to double its efforts in the next decade in order to meet its revised targets as the country continues to lay strategies to reduce heavy spending on imports in order to sustain growth.

The sector is expected to grow at an average rate of 28%-30% annually compared to the initial projection of 15% detailed in Vision 2020.

The "very ambitious targets" says Minister of Trade and Industry François Kanimba may not be achieved this year as export earnings are already targeted to rise by 15% compared to last year's $740 million which also include tourism receipts.

"We may not achieve these targets in 2012 because there are a number of basic investments in the infrastructure which need to be developed upfront to be able to achieve such performance in medium to longer term," says Mr. Kanimba.

But Kanimba is right. The projected slowdown is attributed to the fears that commodity prices could go down on the international market thus reducing the value of Rwanda's major export commodities-coffee, tea and minerals--which generate over 80% of the country's export earnings.

From 2009, the difference between exports and imports of goods has been rising and it had reached $1.099 billion in 2011 from $786.7 million in 2010 and $762 million in 2009. This means that Rwanda continues to spend more of its currency to buy foreign currencies in order to be able to buy goods in external markets.

With this in mind, Rwanda thought that the export sector could be turned around but it needed a roadmap to dissect a clear direction.

Therefore, the 2010 national retreat held at Kivu Serena hotel in western Rwanda demanded that a National Export Strategy (NES) be developed "to guarantee continued and steady growth".


The NES was developed and approved by the cabinet in April 2011 according to the ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM).


The strategy seeks to attain seven major outcomes that include increasing export revenues through quantity and value addition as well as export diversification; creating a favorable business environment that encourages the formalization of export-related industries and increasing the number of export firms.

The NES seeks to improve the understanding of international standards, requirements, and opportunities as well as to encourage institutional and public-private coordination around key market-led export initiatives, while maintaining a flexible export strategy, based on continued monitoring and evaluation.

The five year strategy also aims to increase the export-related number of jobs, particularly with high living standards and to improve and leverage human capital, innovation, and technology investments, including the development of competitive mindsets across key export sectors.

Lastly, it seeks to support broader areas of social development such as gender equality, youth development, environmental sustainability and inclusion of vulnerable groups.
 
#94 ·
Rwanda: Country, Israel to Bolster Agriculture Cooperation

Rwanda and Israel are set to enter into a joint partnership to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and rural development, according to officials from both countries.

Orit Noked, Israel's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, confirmed the initiative yesterday after meeting President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro.

Speaking to journalists shortly after meeting the Head of State, Noked said: "I came here to strengthen the relationship between Rwanda and Israel, but most specifically in agriculture and rural development."
She said they are planning to construct an Agriculture Centre of Excellency in Rwanda that will be used as an avenue for private Israel companies to demonstrate their technologies.

There will also be opportunities for various training programmes to be conducted by Israel at the centre.

According to Ernest Ruzindaza, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, the two countries will share experience in increasing production technologies, processing and trade in agricultural produce.
"We are going to sign a memorandum of understanding in agriculture and animal resources next month with the government of Israel to boost our cooperation in the sector," he said.
Ruzindaza added that, the two countries will reinforce cooperation in irrigation and post harvest technologies, horticulture development, diagnostic technologies in animal diseases, animal feeds and agriculture research.

The Agriculture technology in Israel is highly developed and the country is a major exporter of fresh produce despite the fact that more than half of the land area is a desert.

"The most important thing we are going to start with is the construction of agriculture Centre of Excellence in Masaka, Kicukiro District. People from Israel will come here in July to showcase the artistic impression of the centre before its construction kicks off," said Ruzindaza.
He said President Paul Kagame expressed gratitude to the cooperation due to the fact that agriculture is one of the pillars of the country's economic development.
 
#95 ·
Le Rwanda, meilleur élève du continent
Mardi, 03 Juillet 2012 13:28 PAR ALAIN FAUJAS



Le Rwanda est une Afrique un peu spéciale. Les rues de ses villes sont propres, la sécurité y est assurée, les services publics fonctionnent, la corruption y est rare. On peut être agacé par le pilotage autoritaire de ce pays où l'opposition est jugulée, mais, comme avec la Malaisie sous la férule de Mahathir ou la Côte d'Ivoire cornaquée par Houphouët-Boigny, il faut bien reconnaître que ce despotisme éclairé donne des résultats spectaculaires.
Dans quasiment tous les domaines, Kigali peut prétendre à l'excellence. La capitale a réalisé presque 8 % de croissance annuelle depuis 2005, et même 8,8 % en 2011, année où l'ensemble de l'Afrique subsaharienne a vu son PIB croître de 5 %. Elle s'est hissée à la 45e place en 2012, au lieu de la 150e en 2008, dans le classement « Doing Business » qui évalue 183 pays selon la facilité avec laquelle on peut y faire des affaires.

De 2000 à 2011, le revenu moyen par habitant y a doublé, passant de 227 à 467 euros. Le taux d'inflation (5,7 % en 2011) est nettement inférieur à celui de ses voisins de la Communauté de l'Afrique de l'Est, même si les prix alimentaires ont bondi de 20,5 % de décembre 2010 à décembre 2011. Enfin, avec plus de 56 % de femmes parmi les députés, le Rwanda est politiquement le pays le plus féminisé au monde.

« Ce pays utilise l'aide extérieure de façon très efficace et il n'est pas étonnant que son taux de pauvreté ait reculé de douze points en cinq ans, soit deux fois plus vite que le reste de l'Afrique, commente Shantayanan Devarajan, chef économiste pour l'Afrique à la Banque mondiale. Sa protection sociale y a beaucoup contribué ; elle est remarquable parce qu'elle est déterminée par les communautés et parce qu'elle comporte une assurance maladie rarissime sur ce continent. Ainsi, le taux de mortalité infantile a chuté spectaculairement parce que les médecins sont incités financièrement à vacciner les enfants. »

Le Rwanda a arrêté un programme baptisé « Vision 2020 », qui devrait le transformer d'ici à huit ans en un pays « à revenu intermédiaire », ce qui, dans le jargon de la Banque mondiale et du Fonds monétaire international (FMI), le mettrait au niveau du Ghana ou de l'Afrique du Sud. Aujourd'hui, la croissance n'est pas tout à fait assez forte pour maintenir le pays sur cette trajectoire, mais le cadre d'action est là, qui a pour ambition de faire du Rwanda un Singapour africain. Priorité a donc été donnée au secteur tertiaire pour compenser l'enclavement, un sous-sol peu riche et une agriculture handicapée par la surpopulation et le relief. Les services représentent 47 % du PIB et se développent à vive allure, entraînés dans le sillage d'un secteur bancaire dynamique et solide, et d'un tourisme en pleine expansion grâce à une compagnie aérienne de qualité, Rwandair, grâce aux gorilles du massif des Virunga et grâce à l'accueil de congrès.

Autre talent rwandais : l'art de séduire les bailleurs de fonds. En 2010, ils étaient 28 partenaires, de la Banque mondiale aux ONG, plus modestes, à apporter 750 millions d'euros à Kigali. C'est remarquable, mais c'est une véritable perfusion, qui représente un cinquième du PIB du pays et de 40 % à 45 % du budget national. Le gouvernement de Paul Kagamé sait que cet atout peut se révéler un talon d'Achille si la crise limitait la générosité des donateurs, mais il est obligé de compter sur ce cordon ombilical qui vient combler un déficit commercial exorbitant et compenser des handicaps sévères.

Le plus grave d'entre eux est la mauvaise qualité des infrastructures, qui en fait l'un des pays de la région où il est le plus coûteux de travailler. La Banque africaine de développement (BAD) rappelle que le coût du kilowattheure s'y élève à 0,14 euro, contre 0,09 en moyenne pour les pays voisins, et que la tonne transportée y coûte 130 euros, contre 75 en moyenne dans la région. Les projets de centrales électriques de Rusumo et de Rusizi III, tout comme le goudronnage des grands axes routiers et la réhabilitation de la voie ferrée vers le Burundi et la Tanzanie, ne seront pas du luxe. Le meilleur élève de la classe africaine devra le rester longtemps pour oublier le génocide qui a prolongé sa très grande pauvreté.
source
 
#96 ·
Rwanda : la dynamique numérique en applications


03/07/2012 à 10h:08 Par Pierre Boisselet


Un réseau de fibre optique performant couvre désormais l'ensemble des régions rwandaises. Reste à développer son utilisation dans tous les secteurs économiques et sociaux. Dans le public comme dans le privé, les innovations ne manquent pas.

Les infrastructures sont là. Depuis l'an dernier, 2 300 km de fibre optique irriguent les 30 districts du pays, désormais tous couverts par un réseau internet mobile de bonne facture. Il s'agit maintenant de l'utiliser. C'est tout l'objectif du troisième plan quinquennal de développement des technologies de l'information et de la communication (TIC), approuvé par le gouvernement rwandais en mars.
Les deux premiers avaient eu pour objectifs respectifs de mobiliser les Rwandais autour de la nécessité de développer ce secteur, appelé à être un pilier de l'économie de la connaissance souhaitée par le gouvernement, puis de développer les infrastructures nécessaires à son émergence. Kigali considère que le contrat est rempli. « En réalité, nous avons même bâti volontairement des réseaux d'une capacité très supérieure à ce qui est nécessaire pour préparer l'avenir », explique Patrick Nyirishema, responsable des TIC à l'Office rwandais du développement.

La prochaine étape est de passer le relais au secteur privé pour mettre la technologie au service du développement des différents secteurs (information, tourisme, santé, agriculture, éducation, etc.) et du pays en général. Certaines applications, qui fonctionnent déjà, donnent un aperçu de ce à quoi pourrait ressembler le Rwanda de demain. Le Rwanda 3.0.

B.a.-bazerty
Les traces de craie qui y sont incrustées sont trompeuses. Cela fait bien longtemps qu'on n'utilise plus le tableau noir dans cette salle de classe de la Camp Kigali School. Depuis que l'école bénéficie du programme One Laptop per Child (« un ordinateur portable par enfant »), cette pièce équipée d'une seule prise électrique est devenue la salle informatique des 2 500 élèves de l'établissement, et les 10-12 ans y passent une heure vingt par semaine pour apprendre le b.a.-ba du maniement d'un ordinateur. Depuis 2008, le gouvernement a acquis quelque 200 000 portables et déjà équipé 208 écoles publiques. L'objectif est d'arriver au double. P.B.

Santé
Un suivi médical bien assuré


C'est devenu un geste quotidien pour la plupart des cadres du ministère de la Santé : se connecter au système de gestion des informations sanitaires. Ils peuvent y suivre, mois après mois et district par district, l'évolution des indicateurs pertinents pour leur fonction, du nombre de nouveaux cas de paludisme à celui des actes de violence faits aux femmes. Car, dans tous les centres de santé du pays, des responsables des données sont désormais chargés de faire remonter les informations du terrain via ce système.
Le Rwanda s'est en effet lancé dans un vaste programme d'informatisation de la santé, baptisé e-Health. Son précurseur, TracNet, lancé en 2005, permettait de suivre l'évolution de l'épidémie de sida et d'anticiper l'acheminement des traitements. « C'était particulièrement important pour le traitement du sida, parce que tout arrêt des médicaments peut être très dangereux », indique Richard Gakuba, coordonnateur national des programmes e-Health. TracNet fonctionne toujours et la plupart des autres maladies sont maintenant suivies par un système similaire. En outre, un logiciel de gestion des stocks de médicaments, que pourra utiliser chaque hôpital pour réclamer des livraisons, doit être mis en place d'ici au début de 2013.

Depuis 2010, les grossesses font également l'objet d'un suivi automatisé. Chaque village dispose théoriquement de deux correspondants formés pour transmettre par SMS des informations telles que le nom des femmes nouvellement enceintes, la date de leurs dernières menstruations ou encore les éventuelles maladies contractées pendant la grossesse. « Le système les prévient au moment de passer des examens et lorsqu'elles sont proches du terme pour qu'elles s'orientent vers un centre de santé », explique Richard Gakuba. Tous ces correspondants ne sont pas encore pleinement opérationnels, reconnaît-il toutefois. Pas facile de suivre le rythme technologique imposé par le ministère.

Tourisme
Voyages à la carte avec Google


Qui peut augmenter la visibilité d'un pays pour les touristes sans réclamer un dollar ? Le Rwanda est le premier pays du continent à avoir trouvé la réponse : Google. Le moteur de recherche le plus utilisé a en effet choisi le pays des Mille Collines comme projet pilote en Afrique pour la cartographie des installations touristiques.
En mars, l'Office rwandais du développement a donc communiqué au géant de l'internet ses données sur les principales attractions touristiques, les hôtels, les restaurants, les centres commerciaux, les bureaux de change et autres services, afin qu'elles soient recensées sur les cartes interactives Google Maps. Les acteurs du secteur ont aussi été invités à entrer eux-mêmes les informations relatives à leurs établissements. Les futurs visiteurs du Rwanda auront donc la possibilité d'organiser leur itinéraire de voyage en quelques clics, sans bouger de chez eux.

Agriculture
Des marchés à portée de main


Utiliser les dernières technologies pour prêter main-forte aux plus faibles, c'est la philosophie de l'application e-Soko (« e-marché », en kinyarwanda). Grâce à ce programme lancé en 2010, les agriculteurs peuvent s'informer en temps réel, par SMS, sur les prix de leurs produits (78 sont répertoriés) sur le marché de leur choix (parmi 62 proposés). Le système est au point, mais le nombre total d'utilisateurs (70 000) reste bien en deçà des espérances. C'est pourquoi une deuxième phase est en préparation, qui devrait voir la mise en place d'un serveur vocal (pour les illettrés), l'ouverture du service à tous les opérateurs (jusqu'à maintenant, seul MTN le propose) ainsi que la possibilité pour les agriculteurs de faire connaître le prix et la quantité de denrées qu'ils souhaitent vendre.
source

:applause:
 
#97 ·
Aérien : le Rwanda se sent pousser des ailes


03/07/2012 à 10h:17 Par Christophe Le Bec



Bien décidé à profiter de la croissance exceptionnelle du trafic en Afrique de l'Est, le Rwanda étoffe la flotte et le réseau de Rwandair. Il attire aussi d'autres compagnies sur son tarmac.

Pour faire de Kigali un hub aérien reliant le coeur du continent au Moyen-Orient, les autorités rwandaises s'appuient sur une stratégie en deux volets : « D'un côté, nous allons construire un nouvel aéroport dans le district de Bugesera [lire encadré, NDLR] pour doper notre capacité d'accueil à 3 millions de passagers par an. De l'autre, nous voulons augmenter la flotte et le réseau de notre compagnie Rwandair, pour renforcer l'attractivité de la place », explique Alexis Nzahabwanimana, ministre des Transports.
Alors que l'Afrique de l'Est est la région subsaharienne dont le trafic aérien croît le plus (plus de 20 % par an), Kigali est persuadé d'avoir une carte à jouer. « Depuis que nous avons lancé Rwandair en 2009 [à la suite de Rwandair Express, créée en 2002], nous avons doublé son trafic chaque année, pour atteindre 270 000 passagers en 2011 », se félicite Alexis Nzahabwanimana. Quant au trafic total de l'aéroport international de Kigali, il a atteint près de 400 000 passagers en 2011.

Direction Lagos

Pour pousser son trafic, Rwandair, présidée depuis janvier par l'ancien patron d'Ethiopian Airlines, Girma Wake, modernise et complète sa flotte. La société a réceptionné en août 2011 un premier Boeing 737-800 et en attend un second dans les tout prochains mois. « Nous venons de vendre deux anciens jets Bombardier CRJ-200 et en avons commandé deux nouveaux, des CRJ-900, qui doivent être livrés en octobre. D'ici à la fin de l'année, nous aurons donc sept avions. Quatre seront propriété de la compagnie et trois en location », détaille le ministre, qui vise à terme une flotte de dix appareils.

Un nouvel aéroport

C'est le district de Bugesera, au sud de la capitale, qui a été choisi pour l'implantation du nouvel aéroport de Kigali. À terme, il devrait atteindre une capacité de 3 millions de passagers et 15 500 tonnes de cargaison par an. « Situé à quarante-cinq minutes en voiture de la capitale, il présente l'avantage d'être facilement extensible », précise Alexis Nzahabwanimana, le ministre des Transports. Le projet nécessitera un investissement massif d'environ 500 millions d'euros. Si la phase d'étude est presque achevée, la sélection du maître d'oeuvre du chantier doit être annoncée d'ici à la fin de 2012, pour une entrée en service en 2016. Christophe Le Bec.

Le premier des deux Boeing a été affecté à une nouvelle ligne, inaugurée en décembre, vers Lagos. La capitale économique du Nigeria devient ainsi la première destination ouest-africaine de Rwandair. Une ouverture qui monte à treize le nombre de destinations de la compagnie, après Brazzaville, Libreville, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Addis-Abeba, Bujumbura, Entebbe (Ouganda)... Inversement, de grandes compagnies européennes et moyen-orientales ont mis la capitale rwandaise sur leurs plans de vols : après KLM, Brussels Airlines et Qatar Airways, c'était au tour de Turkish Airlines d'ouvrir, en mai, une ligne directe entre Istanbul et Kigali, avec des rotations trois fois par semaine.

Forte concurrence

Mais le Rwanda doit faire face à ses puissants voisins. « Kigali a pour handicap majeur de se trouver à proximité des bases de Kenya Airways et d'Ethiopian Airlines, qui disposent d'une flotte d'appareils et d'une population autrement plus importantes, observe l'analyste Cheikh Tidiane Camara, du cabinet de conseil aérien Ectar. Même avec un nouvel aéroport doté d'une capacité de 3 millions de passagers par an, je ne vois pas comment Kigali réussira à attirer davantage que Nairobi [5,1 millions de passagers]. »

« Avec la forte croissance du trafic en Afrique de l'Est et le besoin criant de liaisons intra-africaines, les grandes compagnies aériennes du continent ne peuvent répondre à toute la demande, il y a de la place pour tous », veut croire Alexis Nzahabwanimana. Pour lui, la rigueur de la gestion du ciel rwandais, notamment en matière de sécurité aérienne, et la forte volonté politique de développer les infrastructures devraient aussi convaincre les passagers et les grandes compagnies de transiter par Kigali.
source
 
#98 ·
Rwanda : une fée électricité venue du Maghreb


03/07/2012 à 10h:05 Par Julien Clémençot


Depuis un an, la Société tunisienne de l'électricité et du gaz installe le courant dans la province de l'Est du Rwanda.

Ce jeudi 7 juin, Mohamed Salah Bellili, ingénieur de Steg International Services (SIS), filiale de la Société tunisienne de l'électricité et du gaz (Steg), supervise l'installation du réseau basse et moyenne tension dans le district de Gatsibo (Est). Pendant encore une semaine, son équipe va planter des pylônes de 12 m de haut afin de brancher huit gros villages dans la zone de Rugarama. « Dès que l'on s'écarte de la route, tout se fait à la main et il faut quinze paires de bras pour les sceller dans le sol », explique-t-il. Une fois le gros oeuvre achevé, deux monteurs grimperont au sommet des poteaux pour installer une ligne en almelec, un alliage à base d'aluminium plus résistant, plus léger et surtout moins cher que le cuivre.

Pylônes

Depuis près de un an et pour encore au moins six mois, Mohamed Salah Bellili est l'un des quatre responsables tunisiens du projet d'électrification de la province de l'Est. Un contrat de 69 millions de dollars (55 millions d'euros) remporté fin 2010 après une phase test dans la région de Nyagatare (Nord-Est). Grâce à un système basse tension largement éprouvé en Tunisie, l'entreprise doit réaliser 50 000 connexions dans une région où 6 % seulement des habitants avaient du courant - grâce à des groupes électrogènes et quelques panneaux solaires - avant le début du programme. « À la fin du chantier, 34 % des gens auront l'électricité », précise Mohamed Salah Bellili. Encore loin de l'objectif de 70 % fixé par le président Paul Kagamé. Au total, les 80 expatriés tunisiens, aidés de leurs collaborateurs rwandais, ont déjà dressé plus de 1 700 pylônes dans six districts et raccordé 33 000 nouveaux clients au réseau de Rwanda Electricity Corporation (Reco).

Si les écoles, les dispensaires, les églises et les mosquées figurent parmi les branchements prioritaires, des milliers de foyers profitent aussi de l'arrivée de la fée électricité dans les villages. Et pour que la magie opère immédiatement, les techniciens posent dans les habitations un tableau simplifié incluant une lampe, une prise de courant et assez de crédit pour deux semaines d'électricité. À la charge des bénéficiaires, ensuite, d'étoffer l'installation. Même les petites entreprises, équipées d'appareils plus gourmands en puissance électrique, peuvent y trouver leur compte, grâce à des transformateurs capables de changer le courant monophasé en courant triphasé.

« Sur 6 000 connexions dans le district de Gatsibo, je n'ai enregistré qu'un refus. Au contraire, beaucoup se plaignent de ne pas pouvoir être raccordés car leurs maisons sont trop éloignées de la ligne principale. Nos câbles de branchement n'excèdent pas 40 m », explique Mohamed Salah Bellili. Bien que subventionnée à 50 %, l'opération coûte tout de même 28 000 francs rwandais (36,30 euros), soit plus de un mois de salaire pour un instituteur. « Quelque 80 % des personnes branchées ont réglé cette facture et, pour les plus démunis, le gouvernement réfléchit à une formule à 15 000 francs rwandais », précise l'ingénieur tunisien.

Coupures

Enthousiaste, Mohamed Salah Bellili ne regrette pas sa première expérience subsaharienne, même si « les coupures de courant, d'internet, de routes pendant la saison des pluies et les pénuries d'essence ont compliqué la tâche », reconnaît-il. À l'issue du projet, il se verrait bien poursuivre l'aventure dans un autre pays de la région. Déjà intervenu au Cameroun et au Burkina Faso, SIS encourage d'ailleurs ses cadres à identifier de nouvelles opportunités. « Si une occasion se présente, je fonce ! » jure Mohamed Salah Bellili.
source
 
#100 ·
Rwanda: Nurturing a Tech Savvy Generation

A pupil at Groupe Scolaire Kicukiro who benefited from the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project, has invented an animation software which can be activated on a mobile phone and be used as a mobile phone game.

Through the skills and knowledge I have gained from my laptop, I have developed a software which can be activated on a mobile phone and be used as a game
In an exclusive interview with The New Times at the school, Yves Tumushimishe, a primary six pupil said through the skills he has acquired, he has been able to develop the mobile phone software through the use of scratch programme.

Scratch is a highly engaging programming system that allows young students to create animated stories, games, interactive art, and simulations. Students use a drag and drop interface of "code blocks" to create sound, movement and actions to objects known as sprites.
Tumushimishe says before getting a laptop under the OLPC programme, he did not even know how to write a single word on a computer.
"But now through the skills and knowledge I have gained from my laptop, I have developed a software which can be activated on a mobile phone and be used as a game."

He says he is looking forward to develop more software and to teach his classmates how they can develop their own and how to become more creative and innovative in ICT.
"I come from a poor family and I did not have hope of ever owning a laptop. I thank the government for setting up OLPC which has totally changed my life. I plan to study computer science at the university because I want to contribute a lot to the national development in terms of ICT which I believe will spur development of our country not only in the region but internationally," Tumushimishe said.

Donatha Mutoni, also a student in primary six at Groupe Scolaire Kicukiro, said: "I got a Laptop under the OLPC programme when I could not even afford to type a word on the computer, but now I have learnt to use many programmes and I am looking forward to learning more".
She added that they have been taught how to repair computers and to assemble them, saying that this will help them to become IT engineers in the future.

Arsene Twizeyimana, a computer teacher at the school said that the OLPC programme has so far distributed over 900 laptops at his school to students from Primary four to Primary six.
"According to my analysis the OLPC will play a key role in the government vision of helping Rwanda to become a middle-income country by 2020 but I encourage the Ministry of education and other stakeholders to always make supervision on the progress so made by schools regarding this programme because this will help it to be done in a more effective manner" Twizeyimana.

Jean Paul Hitimana, in charge of Training and Awareness at OLPC, said his institution has trained over 2000 teachers in various computer skills.
The project was launched in 2008 by President Paul Kagame, and according to Hitimana, they have finished distributing about 120,000 laptops to 220 schools across the country adding that the distribution was continuing.
 
#101 ·
^^ I think the 'one laptop per child' initiative is a very good idea. All african countries should become participants. The price per laptop is currently USD100. I believe with a bit of research and creativity they can bring the price down to maybe $60 per laptop. That way, poorer countries can afford it.
 
#102 ·
WDA, Chinese firm sign $10 million deal


Artistic impression of the proposed Musanze TVET School. The New Times / Courtesy


The Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and China Geo-Engineering Corporation, yesterday signed a financing agreement to pave way for the disbursement of funds to start the construction of the Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) in the Northern Province.

The $10 million deal will be channelled towards the construction of a regional polytechnic centre in Musanze District, Northern Province.

The construction of the project will be funded by the Chinese government while Rwanda will provide the resources used by students at the campus, such as learning materials, school furniture, among others.

The Director General of WDA, Jerome Gasana, signed the pact together with Zhu Xingui, the Deputy General Manager China Geo-Engineering Corporation in an event held in Kigali.

Speaking after the signing, Gasana said the construction of IPRC North will take only a period of 19 months to be fully completed.

“The construction is going to kick off soon and we hope the Chinese firm will complete the project on time. IPRC North is part of five IPRCs planned for all the provinces all over the country,” he stated.

“So far, Kigali IPRC is in operation; Eastern and Western IPRCs are to be completed in the next couple of months. We are remaining with IPRC South and we are in talks to start its construction which I hope will start next year.”

IPRC equips students with skills in line with key government priority areas, such as agriculture and animal husbandry, renewable energy, construction, tourism and hospitality, ICT and multimedia, hair dressing and job creation skills among others.

The Musanze facility will be equipped with administration blocks, conference halls, student dormitories, play grounds, computer labs and classroom blocks among others.

The construction of vocational training centres is a government initiative to promote job creation by empowering people with hands-on skills.

According to Xingui, IPRC Musanze will be completed on time as per the schedule.

“The levelling of the construction site and laying of the foundation has started. We are getting construction equipment from China within the next few weeks and we hope to complete the project on time,” he said.

IPRC provides all kinds of qualifications to students, ranging from degrees, diplomas and certificates.

The Chinese government continues to channel huge amounts of money in Africa towards financing of infrastructural developments.

Recently, it pledged to provide $20 billion in concessional loans to African countries within the next three years to assist in developing infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Despite the western nations’ aid cut to Rwanda, China continues to aid infrastructural developments in the country.
 
#103 ·
Economy grows by 17.4% in Q1

Rwanda’s economy expanded by 17.4 per cent in the first quarter of this year, boosted by the strong performance of the service sector, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).

Of the growth recorded, the service sector contributed 47 per cent while the primary sector, which comprises of agriculture, fishing and extraction such as mining contributed 31 per cent with manufacturing contributing just 16 per cent.

While export crops slipped by 24 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, overall, agriculture grew by 3 per cent aided by strong food production.

“The industry sector grew by 1 per cent in the first quarter of 2012 compare to 15 per cent realised in 2011-quarter 1---within the sector, mineral products grew by 0 per cent, manufacturing grew by 4 per cent, gas and water by 21 percent while construction fell by 1 percent in this year’s first quarter compare to 24 percent realised in the same period last year,” NISR said in statement.

The stament adds that; “Investment levels (gross capital formation) are estimated at 23 percent of GDP in first three months of this year, reflecting high levels of Capital Goods Imports. In 2012-first quarter, imports are provisionally estimated to have increased by 11 percent at constant prices. These figures imply an increase of 5 percent in private final consumption expenditure,” the NISR reported.

Exports grew by 30 percent following an increase of 58 per cent in the same quarter 2011.
 
#105 ·
Rwanda’s economy expanded by 17.4 per cent in the first quarter of this year, boosted by the strong performance of the service sector, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).
That's crazy growth. If Rwanda can get GDP in this quarter and the last two to grow by at least 7% then that'd be 9% growth for the year. Impressive.
 
#104 ·
Local granite plant injects vigor into construction
http://focus.rw/wp/2012/07/local-granite-plant-injects-vigor-into-construction/
When finance minister John Rwangombwa slapped a 5% tax on imported construction materials during his 2012/13 budget speech, real estate developers were astonished.

So, when President Paul Kagame last week launched a $15 million granite factory located in Nyagatare district, real estates developers sighed with a little relief. East African Granite Industries (EAGI), a joint venture between Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) and Crystal Ventures Ltd will produce granite slabs and standard size floor tiles. The two products are some of the most expensive imported building materials.

Nick Barigye, the project manager says that additional $2 million will be invested machinery that can turn granite waste into stone used in manufacturing cobblestone roads.

According to Barigye, EAGI will start mining marble in the next five years and will be able to offer the market both granite and marble in different colors.


According to available statistics, Rwanda imports approximately 100,000 square meters of granite and about 1.5million square meters of ceramics annually from China, India and Italy. Granite costs about $160 per square meter.

We look to capture 90% of this market not only because of our competitive price of $ 60 per square meter of granite tiles and $100 per square meter of granite slabs; but also because we have very good quality granite,” Barigye said.

He said EAGI has equipment to produce as per client specifications.

Besides producing for the local market, EAGI plans to export about 100,000 square meters of granite to Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and DR Congo.

The East African region imports approximately, 450,000 square meters of granite annually. With an installed capacity of 200,000 square meters per year, EAGI is positioning it self to exploit the regional market.

Developers have welcomed the new plant, saying it will also cut on the time wasted while waiting for imports to arrive from overseas. According to an official of Real Construction Group, it takes 3-4 months for the goods to be delivered from China, India, Spain or Italy.

The new factory is expected to boost the national treasury with $1.2million per year in taxes—a significant contribution to the economy that is 47% funded by donors.
 
#106 ·
Rwanda: 90 Per Cent of Kigali Residential Land Earmarked for Apartments

City officials have said only 10 per cent of Kigali's land will be reserved for bungalows.

In an exclusive interview, Kigali Vice-Mayor in charge of Finance and Economic Development, Alphonse Nizeyimana, explained that the move is in line with sustainable urban planning.


Nizeyimana said Kigali has only 52 per cent of land for development, and stressed that apartments were for better land management.


"We have very limited land for development and to mitigate the problem of the density, we have to adopt suitable policies," Nizeyimana said.

"We have provided only 10 per cent for high-end houses and people to embrace the new changes in the city. We will not allow anyone to build anyhow. People have to abide by the city master plan."

Most Rwandans fancy a home with a yard and an annex, a tendency that, according to city urban planners, threatens the city's future in terms of development.

Kigali's current population is estimated at 1.2 million, but it's expected to reach 2.9 million by 2025, and five million in 2040.

The city has over 730 square kilometres of hills and valleys, with only 422,825 square metres appropriate for development.

Esther Mutamba, the Director General of Rwanda Housing Authority, told this paper earlier that the government has already started sensitising the population on the benefits of what she called housing cooperative projects - beginning with civil servants".

However, several citizens resist development of apartments, citing the associated costs, but concerned authorities target having 40,000 rentals by 2015 mostly for medium and low income earners. An apartment ranges between Rwf 28 million and 45 million.
 
#108 ·
The apartment idea is good, Africa should be building it's cities upwards and not outwards, we all know how disasterous that can be.

And also Accra should really get rid of those bungalows, they are in a prime location! blocking spaces for offices and apartments!
 
#110 ·
New imports clearing system makes doing business easier
http://focus.rw/wp/2012/08/new-imports-clearing-system-makes-doing-business-easier/
Importers will no longer have to wait for a long time to have their goods cleared to enter the market after Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) last week eased the process by introducing an electronic clearing system.

The Rwanda Electronic Single Window links traders with government clearing bodies such as RRA, Rwanda Development Board, Magasins Generaux du Rwanda (MAGERWA), the Ministry of Health, and Rwanda Bureau of Standards.

The electronic single window will complement previous reforms aimed at easing the flow of goods in and out of the country such as introduction of 24-hour border operations at Gatuna and Gisenyi.

This is in addition to electronic scanners installed at Gatuna, Rusumo and Gikondo. The RRA has also previously reduced the mandatory import documents to only three for payment of import duties.

The $3.3 million Rwanda Electronic Single Window, expected to cut the amount of time traders spend while clearing goods by more than half, is therefore seen as a major reform that will help improve Rwanda’s ranking in this particular doing business indicator.

With the new system, clearing agents will no longer need to physically carry documents from one government agency to another in the process of clearing goods. Instead they will load all information online on a web page to be accessed by all stakeholders.
 
#111 ·
Rwanda to acquire global broadband infrastructure
http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15076&a=56773

Rwanda is listed among the first six African nations set to benefit from global wireless broadband infrastructure base station, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

ITU and Nexpedience, one of the world’s leading suppliers of proprietary point-to-multipoint broadband infrastructure, are partnering to bring broadband access to Africa.

Under the terms of the deal, Nexpedience will provide 180 new expedience base stations worth $ 1 million, to be deployed in six nations across the continent.


Rwanda has laid 2,500-kilometre national fibre optic cable that is expected to enhance access to various broadband services in the country.

ITU’s Wireless Broadband Network in Africa project will back up the already existing broadband infrastructure in the country, which would consequently enhance internet accessibility and affordability.

Broadband Systems Corporation (BSC Ltd), a service provider managing a national fibre optic backbone, Internet Data Centre and Kigali Wibro is currently rolling out its broadband services infrastructure in the country.
 
#113 ·
Turkish investor to build 220 Euro power plant

As the demand for electricity continues to grow at a rate of about 10% per year, the government last week boosted efforts to generate more power when it signed a 220 million euro deal with a Turkish investor.

Hakan Mining and Generation Industry and Trade Inc. will build and run a power plant that will burn peat and produce 100 megawatts annually. It will be located in Akanyaru, in Bugesera district.

The plant, whose construction is scheduled to start later next year, will come as a big relief to the government that is seeking quicker solutions to cheaper energy.

Rwanda's current installed electricity generation capacity is just about 100MW, and most of it is from expensive diesel--which makes the unit price of electricity the country the highest in the region at 18.24 US cents. Neighbors Burundi and Uganda are at 8.19 and 11.22 US cents per unit respectively.

The government is looking at increased investment in hydro, geothermal, methane gas and peat for cheaper energy.
Rwanda spends about 40% of its foreign exchange to import diesel for power generation and several millions of dollars to subsidize the price in a bid to make power relatively affordable to consumers.

When the project is fully implemented, Hakan Mining and Generation Industry and Trade Inc. will, in three-five years, add another 100MW into the national grid--that is doubling the current capacity.

Rwanda has huge potential for peat energy with previous studies showing that the country has about 155 million tons of dry peat spread in an area of about 50,000 hectares. Most of the peat reserves (about 77%) are found in the marshy areas near the Akanyaru and Nyabarongo rivers. Other significant deposits are in the plains of Rwabusoro.
 
#114 ·
Rwandans could be headed to receiving better services following the World Bank’s approval of a grant worth $50 million (approximately Rwf30 billion) to support Rwanda’s efforts to improve decentralized service delivery.

The grant will be utilized through the Quality of Decentralized Service Delivery Development Policy Operation.

The Government of Rwanda has committed to an overarching priority theme on strengthening accountable governance.

To be able to accomplish these goals, government has committed to promoting greater citizen participation in government policy and decision-making and enhancing the quality of decentralized public service delivery.
http://staytunedafrica.org/2013/05/15/world-bank-boosts-rwandas-service-delivery/
 
#115 ·
#116 ·
Fusion capital, a Kenyan firm, has acquired a 46.5 per cent equity stake in Rusororo Aggregate Limited, the first commercial large scale aggregate mining company in Rwanda.

The deal, worth $2m (Rwf1.3b), will help Rusororo Aggregate to improve it’s production processes, marketing and transportation of its products, Luke Kinoti, the Fusion Group chief executive said in a telephone interview yesterday.
http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15423&a=68769

Kenya ports Authority (KPA) will today officially open a liaison office in Kigali to act as a link between Rwandan shippers and the Port of Mombasa, East Africa’s biggest gateway to global markets.

In a statement issued yesterday, KPA said the new office located at the Grand Pension Plaza will “cater for the business community in the transit market in Rwanda, routing their cargo through the Mombasa port.”
http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15423&a=68771
 
#118 · (Edited)
Rwanda issues first regional mineral export certificates
Novermber 7 2013
NewTimes


A miner separates coltan from stones at Mutobwe Mining Factory

Rwanda became the first country in the Great Lakes to issue a regional certificate for the exportation of minerals, a move that is set to boost mineral traceability and transparency.

Rutongo Mines in Rulindo District was the first recipient of the one-year International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Mineral Export Certificate issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Fifteen more companies are set to follow suit after fulfilling the requirements of the certification. They include, Gifurwe Wolfram Mine, New Bugarama Mining Company and Nyakabingo Wolfram Mine, among others.

The ICGLR mineral exportation certificate was established in 2011 as a solution to regional and international concerns linking illegal mineral trade to violent and armed conflict in the region.

The certificate is a forgery-resistant document with a unique format which identifies a shipment of designated minerals as being in compliance with the requirements of regional standards.

Of the 12 countries in ICGLR, only Rwanda has fulfilled the certification requirements, according to the State Minister for Mines, Evode Imena said.

“International bodies say that minerals in the region fuel conflict, but in Rwanda we do not have any armed groups. The difficulty we have is that we are a neighbour to countries with problems,” Imena said.

“This regional certificate is very beneficial because it will enable us to trade minerals internationally despite the conflicts in other places.”

Rwanda participated in the designing of the ICGLR mineral certification mechanism and integrated it into its legal framework in April 2012, the minister said.

“We have put in place all requirements expected of member states, to implement the ICGLR Regional Certification Mechanism,” Imena said.

The deputy executive secretary of ICGLR, Vincent Muanda, commended Rwanda for the achievement, adding that it serves as a reminder to other nations of the need to comply with the certification requirements.

“Rwanda has fulfilled all the requirements of ICGLR to become the first country in the region to deliver the regional mineral export certificate,” Muanda said.

“Without having to list all the technical details related to the status of regional certification, I will point out that Rwanda has been a subject of independent evaluations of the mineral chain custody, which have shown that the mines to be certified meet international and regional standards.”

Complimenting ITSCi

In 2011, the country began tagging minerals in compliance with the Dodd Frank Act, which prohibited the purchase of untraceable minerals, particularly, tin, coltan and wolfram originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or any adjoining country.

Upon being signed into law by US President Barack Obama, the Act required that all American electronic companies disclose and verify their sources of tin, coltan and wolfram.

This gave birth to the mineral tagging and traceability scheme known as ITSCi, which Rwanda implemented.

Asked whether ICGLR certification would conflict with ITSCi, Imena said they will instead complement each other.

“Before getting an ICGLR mineral export certificate, there are four things involved. The mine must comply with ITSCi and international due diligence, the mineral supply chain must be traceable through tagging, the system must be audited by ICGLR and lastly, the system must also be audited by an independent auditor from outside the region.”

“These are modern initiatives that will complement each other as we ensure that our mining industry is clean and efficiently managed,” he said.

He also added that analytical finger printing database from about 300 mine sites is available and will be used by the independent mineral chain Auditors to determine the origin of minerals.

How the certification works

Once minerals from a certain mine are tagged, an ICGLR certificate accompanies each exported shipment of designated minerals that has been certified, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.

This serves as an assurance to the purchaser that a mineral shipment is conflict free and meets all regional and international standards.

Member states of ICGLR are required to examine each export of designated material including all supporting document concerning chain of custody and mine of origin before issuing a certificate.

In order to protect the industry from illegal mineral trading, Rwanda has, among other things established border surveillance to curb mineral smugglers, particularly from DRC.

In the recent past, it has returned over 80 tonnes of smuggled minerals seized by Rwandan police to DRC.

Rwanda’s mining sector includes 548 mine sites with tin ore, wolframite ore and coltan ore, the most exported minerals.

Government targets to increase revenues from mineral exports from $136.6m (Rwf87b) collected in 2012, to $409 million (Rwf26ob) by 2017.
 
#120 ·
Construction of $24m Rusumo bridge begins: it will connect Rwanda and Tanzania
Novermber 7 2013
NewTimes


DAIHO employees at work. The bridge is expected to be ready by the end of February next year. The New Times/Peterson Tumwebaze

The construction of the new Rusumo International Bridge and One-Stop Border Post facilities are rolling out, with the works on the former commencing last Tuesday.

Rusumo International Bridge, under construction across the Akagera River will replace the old one built 40 years ago to link Rwanda and Tanzania.

The project is expected to have a positive impact on the economic development of both nations, by enhancing regional integration and cross-border trade.

The project, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency, will cover the construction of the new dual carriage bridge, a two-kilometre road connecting two customs offices as well as equipping both sites with necessary tools and suitable parking.

Japan provided $24.4 million (about Rwf16 billion) grant for the construction of Rusumo International Bridge.

Eng. Honoré Munyanshongore, of Rwanda Transport Development Agency, said the new 80-metre-width bridge will make the permanent use of two lanes possible.

Munyanshongore said the bridge would increase the axle load restriction from the present eight tonnes to 20 tonnes and the speed limit from the present five kilometres per hour to 30 kilometres per hour.

“The new facility is installed with capacity to carry 180 tonnes. The old one was installed with capacity to carry 32 tonnes 40 years ago, although it now carries more than 60 tonnes due to huge transport volumes that increased over the years,” he said.

Border post

Meanwhile, the construction of One-Border Stop Post has reached final stages, giving the area a complete face-lift.

Munyanshonga said the border post would cope with expected increase of traffic volume in the coming years.

“It will also eliminate the present traffic congestion through the introduction of One-Stop Border Post system that will greatly improve the efficiency of cargo transportation and eventually increase the physical distribution volume and reduce transportation costs,” he said.

Protais Murayire, the mayor of Kirehe, was upbeat, saying the construction of the border post was timely.

“These trucks you see here would be parked in Nyakarambi town where there is no space for huge traffic. Managing the traffic was a big burden to us but now the place is becoming beautiful with good road network and businesses,” he said.

The construction activities of Rusumo One-Stop Border Post is set to be completed by November next year.
 
#121 ·
Rwanda seeks to rejoin central African bloc


Rwanda is set to rejoin the Economic Community of Central African States (Eccas), six years after it pulled out of the regional bloc, it has emerged.

The development was announced yesterday by Foreign minister Louise Mushikiwabo during a visit to the Republic of Congo.

“My Rep. of Congo counterpart (Basile) Ikouebe & I informed our teams Rwanda soon to be welcomed back in CEEAC (French acronym for Eccas), Community of Central African States,” the minister wrote on Twitter.

When Rwanda ended its membership of Eccas in 2007 it had just joined the East African Community (EAC), now a five-member bloc, with the other partner states being Burundi (also in a member of Eccas), Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Then, Kigali justified that action saying it was trying to avoid overlapping memberships in several regional community groupings.

Eccas is a regional community of 10 central African states, namely; Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tome & Principe.

http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15536&a=71965
 
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