KIGALI, August 13, 2009—World Bank Group President, Robert B. Zoellick, wrapped up his two-day visit to Rwanda Wednesday with a moving engagement with ex-combatants severely disabled during years of war and conflict in Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region. Â
Zoellick earlier in the day had a working lunch with President Paul Kagame and also held meetings with Cabinet ministers, private sector leaders, representatives of the civil society, East African Community ministers and African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka.Â
He said he was encouraged by Rwanda’s recovery since the 1994 genocide and the opportunities that the country has for addressing its challenges, including good governance and aid effectiveness.
“My prime purpose in this visit was to try to get a better sense of some of the challenges facing the country,” Zoellick said, during a press conference.Â
Zoellick, who is visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda, said his mission is to understand the challenges facing these countries and the impact of the global economic crisis on each of them. Â
“On this visit, I have been going to countries at various stages of moving out of conflict because I do believe these countries face special challenges and I also want to try to get a better understanding of the effect of the economic crisis on each of the countries and how we can be most supportive,” he said. Â
Describing Rwanda as a very ambitious country, Zoellick said the World Bank will act with equal ambition to meet Rwanda’s expectations because the country is doing “incredible things” and its people are open about the challenges they face. Â
He said the Bank will continue to support Rwanda’s efforts in agriculture, environment, infrastructure, private sector development, regional integration and human development.Â
On his first day in Rwanda, President Zoellick visited the Lake Kivu methane gas to power pilot project which he said has great potential to increase electricity supply particularly to transform Rwanda’s rural areas. Â
Zoellick ends his tour in Uganda. He is accompanied by Obiageli Ezekwesili, the Bank’s Vice President for the Africa Region. Â
RSS