Members of Congress will seek business investment in Rwanda

Sep 4 2009

A delegation of five U.S. members of Congress traveling in Africa "pledged to woo the U.S. business community to invest in Rwanda," New Times/allAfrica.com reports. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), who is leading the delegation, "said that Rwanda has proven to be one of the most favourable places to do business and it would be a major destination for U.S. investors," the publication writes. "I think the U.S. can continue to send individuals here, businessmen especially, that would invest in Rwanda and also help the people of Rwanda. I think this is very important," Meeks said.

He said that President Obama will continue supporting initiatives aimed at combating diseases in African countries and that the president will support USAID projects that empower people and improve health (Kagire, 9/3).

After meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Meeks said the delegation was "tremendously pleased" with the meeting and "what we have seen over the last three days," VOA News writes (Boswell, 9/2).

"We want to be partners; I think the President [Kagame] was clear, he is not asking the U.S. for aid, he is asking the U.S. for partnership in economic development, in trade and investment from the private sector. We are going to do everything that we can when we get back to the U.S. to assist the President in that matter," Meeks said, according to New Times/allAfrica.com.

Meeks said the meeting with Kagame included discussions about the Vision 2020 initiative, healthcare development and other topics. Finance Minister James Musoni said, "President Obama's approach fits very well with the message and the vision of our President (Kagame) which he has continuously echoed that good governance is a foundation for socio-economic transformation that we need. This has also been demonstrated here" (9/3).

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/