The 11th Annual Policy Dialogue on the Japanese Official Development Assistance to the Republic of Rwanda (4th November 2014)
(Left: From left: Mr. Moriya, Mr. Ogawa, Ms. Kambanda, Mr. Rugwabiza. Right: Participants listening to the presentation)
On 4th November, the 11th 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 co-chaired by Ms. Jeanine Kambanda, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and H.E. Mr. Kazuya Ogawa, Ambassador of Japan. And it was also attended by Mr. Leonard Rugwabiza, Chief Economist in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, and officials from various ministries and agencies as well as Mr.Takahiro Moriya, Resident Representative of JICA accompanied by members from the Embassy of Japan 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.
At the dialogue, the Government of Rwanda presented the status of its macro economy as well as the achievements that Rwanda has made under the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS2). The Government of Japan explained the follow-ups on the 5th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD V) which was held in June 2013, in Yokohama, Japan. Moreover, the participants exchanged their views on four sectors; Economic Infrastructure Development, Agriculture Development, Social Service Improvement, and Human Resource Development for Sustaining Country Growth which Japan has supported.
H.E. Mr. Kazuya Ogawa, Ambassador of Japan, commended the hard work done by the Government of Rwanda to achieve its development with impressive economic growth under the strong leadership of President Kagame. He also stated that “I sincerely wish that this dialogue will contribute to a mutual understanding which will promote a more effective cooperation. And I believe that this dialogue will further strengthen the existing relationship between our two countries.”
During the dialogue, the applicability of Japan’s ODA loan, or Yen loan, to Rwanda was also discussed for the first time.
Throughout the whole dialogue, the discussions were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere, and it was very productive.