President Kagame engages global investors attending Africa CEO Forum in Kigali

By The Inspirer.

President Paul Kagame has held high-level meetings with leading global and African business executives attending the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, in engagements aimed at strengthening investment partnerships and advancing Rwanda’s economic transformation agenda.

The meetings took place at Village Urugwiro and brought together senior executives from multinational companies operating across energy, logistics, aviation, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors.

Among those received was Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman of Schneider Electric, a global company operating in more than 100 countries. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in energy management, technical advisory services, and infrastructure development, particularly in support of Rwanda’s aviation ambitions.

Schneider Electric has been working with Rwanda through a 2025 partnership with the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, aimed at enhancing technical capacity in energy systems, airport infrastructure management, and operational efficiency. The collaboration aligns with Rwanda’s long-term goal of positioning itself as a regional aviation hub, including the ongoing development of Bugesera International Airport.

President Kagame also met Mohammed Akoojee, CEO of DP World Africa, a key partner in Rwanda’s logistics and trade facilitation sector. DP World has been instrumental in the development and operation of the Kigali Logistics Platform (KLP), an inland dry port that began operations in 2018 and serves as a strategic gateway for regional and international trade.

The facility is part of broader efforts to strengthen Rwanda’s position as a logistics hub for the East African Community and the wider sub-Saharan region.

He also received Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder and chairman of BUA Group, one of Africa’s largest industrial conglomerates with investments in cement, sugar, edible oils, and other manufacturing sectors.

In another engagement, President Kagame met Ylias Akbaraly, Chairman of Redland Group, a diversified multinational with investments spanning industry, technology, media, aviation, tourism, finance, energy, construction, and real estate across more than 30 countries.

According to Village Urugwiro, the discussions centered on expanding investment cooperation and exploring new opportunities aligned with Rwanda’s national development priorities and private sector growth strategy.

President Kagame also held talks with Botswana Vice President Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations following recent agreements signed during the President’s visit to Botswana.

The agreements cover key areas including double taxation avoidance, air transport, trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation aimed at deepening ties between Rwanda and Botswana.