By Ebi Kesiena
Rwanda’s Prime Minister, Édouard Ngirente, met with Fan Qimiao, the newly appointed World Bank Country Director for Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, and Somalia on Wednesday to discuss Rwanda’s Development agenda and enhance the partnership between the country and the global financial institution.
Qimiao, in his first official visit to Rwanda since his appointment in September, emphasized the importance of supporting the country’s Second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), a five-year plan designed to create jobs, increase exports, and improve the quality of education.
“We discussed Rwanda’s key development priorities and the World Bank’s support, particularly for the NST2 plan. I reaffirmed our commitment to helping Rwanda pursue green, resilient, and inclusive development for the benefit of all Rwandans,” Qimiao said.
The talks focused on key sectors like infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social protection, with Qimiao stressing that private sector involvement will be critical to the success of ongoing projects.
On his part, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, also highlighted the successful collaboration between Rwanda and the World Bank, citing a fast-tracked construction project during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Murangwa noted that the project, which was designed and implemented within a record nine months, demonstrated the potential for swift and effective partnerships. He added that future efforts would prioritize job creation for youth, with a particular focus on agriculture and education.
The meeting marks a renewed commitment to fostering inclusive growth and development in Rwanda, with a focus on driving key reforms in partnership with the World Bank.
