The 10th Annual Policy Dialogue on Japanese Official Development Assistance to the Republic of Rwanda (27th September 2013)

 


(Left: From left: Mr. Kobayashi, Ms. Kijima, Mr. Ogawa, Ms. Baine, Mr. Ngango. Right: Participants listening to the presentation)

H. E. Mr. Kazuya Ogawa's Opening Remarks

On 27th September, the 10th Annual Policy Dialogue on the Japanese Official Development Assistance to the Republic of Rwanda was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. The dialogue was attended by Ms. Mary Baine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. Christian Rwakunda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Mr. Richard Tusabe, Deputy Commissioner General of Rwanda Revenue Authority and officials from various ministries and agencies as well as H.E. Mr. Kazuya Ogawa, Ambassador of Japan, Ms. Yoshiko Kijima, Director of Country Assistance Planning Division from the headquarters and Mr. Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Resident Representative of JICA accompanied by officials from Japanese Embassy and JICA.

The policy dialogue started in 2004 and has been held every year with the attendance of high level officials. Its target is to deepen the understanding of Japan’s ODA policy and Rwanda’s development policy in order to implement the strategic economic cooperation. This year, the dialogue celebrates its 10th anniversary.

At the dialogue, the Government of Rwanda presented the status of its macro economy as well as the details of the second phase of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2). The Government of Japan explained follow-ups on the 5th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD V) which was held in June in Yokohama, Japan. Moreover, the participants exchanged their views on 4 sectors; Economic Infrastructure Development, Agriculture Development, Social Service Improvement, and Human Resource Development for Sustaining Country growth which Japan has supported.

Also the Government of Japan and the Government of Rwanda agreed that Japan assists Agriculture, Water and Sanitation, and Energy as an active partner, and Education and Transport as a silent partner according to the revised DoL (Division of Labor) which is aligned with EDPRS2.

Throughout the whole dialogue, the discussions were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere.