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22-24 JULY 2011 – Rwanda Diaspora Convention Europe

For more information on Accommodation, Transportation, Convention Programme and how to be involved with the event please email: rwandaconvention@gmail.com

Or call Alex Ntale on: 07912227898

Rwanda needs more investments in money transfers – Central Bank
By Berna Namata

More international companies are required to remit money to the country in order to lower the high costs currently incurred when sending money from abroad, a senior official at the Central Bank has said.

This follows a recent finding by the World Bank that the cost of sending money to Rwanda is among the highest in the region.

 “The more companies (sending money) there are in these countries (Diaspora), the cheaper it is to send money. If the companies are fewer, the higher the costs,” Ambassador Claver Gatete, the Vice Governor told Business Times in a phone interview, on Monday, commenting on the reporting findings.

According to data compiled by the World Bank, published under the ‘Remittance Prices Worldwide’ database, sending US$200 from the UK to Rwanda can entail an average transaction cost of up to $30.72.

The data covers 200 “country corridors” worldwide, from 29 remittance sending countries to 86 receiving countries.

To encourage and ease repatriation of funds, Gatete said the Central Bank is willing to license more companies involved in money transfer business if they meet Central Bank requirements.

Currently, international money transfer window is dominated by Western Union and Moneygram, though commercial banks are also increasingly introducing direct transfers.

The World Bank estimates that international remittances totaled $414 billion in 2009, of which $316 billion went to developing countries, involving some 192 million migrants or 3 percent of world population and their families.

For Rwanda, remittances have been increasing since 2005 from $42.85million to $139.89 million in 2008, accelerating further to reach $172.40 million last year, statistics from the Diaspora General Directorate under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicate.

Last year, the Rwandan Diaspora, together with the National Bank of Rwanda, finalised plans to establish an investment fund, Rwandan Diaspora Mutual Fund (RDMF), which was adopted during the 2008 Diaspora retreat.

After its establishment, the Mutual Fund will invest in treasury bonds, guaranteed by BNR, and at a later stage, the interest gained from the bonds will be invested in higher risk products such as corporate bonds and stocks.

However, it is also expected that, in the long-run, the fund will invest abroad to earn more interest which will then be repatriated back to Rwanda.

Data also shows that diaspora remittances have become a key foreign exchange earner for Africa, with about $5 billion released annually.

The World Bank estimates that, after ecovering by the end of this year, recorded remittances to developing countries will rise further in 2011 and 2012, possibly exceeding $370 billion in two years’ time.

Ends

Dear All

Re: Celebration of Victory Day [Intsinzi], 2nd October 2010

Greetings to every one! We hope you all had a wonderful & restful summer break.

RPF committee has the pleasure of inviting you to the Celebration of the 7th year of Victory (Intsinzi).
There will be free food, drinks and entertainment to celebrate the occasion.

It will be a pleasure to gather together and celebrate on the day. Please spread the word to all Rwandans and Friends-of-Rwanda in UK.

Details as below:

Date: 2nd October 2010
Venue: The London Irish Centre
50-52 Camden Square
London
NW1 9XB
UK
Time: From 2pm till late. Please try to be on time.

Yours,
Jane Benzinge Jane Benzinge
RPF Secretary

Friday, 6th November 2009
Rwanda to participate in global travel expo
BY SAUL BUTERA
Rwanda is set to exhibit at the World Travel Market 2009 (WTM), this year. The WTM is the premier global event for the international travel industry that is due to take place in London from 9th to the 12th November 2009. According to Patrick Manzi, the Marketing Manager of the Rwanda Development Board- Tourism and Conservation Department, the annual WTM event attracts nearly 50,000 exhibitors from over 190 countries and over 2,500 media. “It is important for our country to participate in the unique opportunity WTM provides as it gives us the ability to meet the global travel industry and work with them all under one roof,” Manzi said. “It is an important environment to promote Rwanda as a destination of choice for tourists, especially as they prepare to travel for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa,” Manzi explained. The WTM participation is one of several initiatives to lure the 780,000 visitors to Rwanda this year generating an estimated $195million (Rwf110.2 billion) in tourism revenue.     The board is targeting to hit $278 million (Rwf157.1 billion) from tourism revenues by 2012. In the Expo, Rwanda will be showcasing the vast opportunities and new experiences available to tourists visiting the country and its beautiful landscape, which includes; a new canopy walk in Nyungwe forest which will be the first of its kind in the Eastern Region, the Interpretation Centre, a high end 20 seat leisure boat facilitating tourism on lake Kivu, an extraordinary three. During the exhibition, East African Community (EAC) member states will hold a joint cocktail party at the Rwanda stand, where EAC Ambassadors and Ministers will collaborate in a press conference to market the region with the sole aim of stimulating investment and trade in East Africa. Remarkably, Rwanda has embraced the joint EAC marketing initiative.  The UK ranks as the second largest tourist generating market for Rwanda. RDB, Tourism and Conservation has retained the services of Race-point Group, a global PR consultancy, to advise on how to maximize their presence at WTM 2009. Race-point together with the Rwanda Embassy in the UK will work closely with these organisations to arrange press briefings at the show to discuss new and exciting developments with travel and tourism in Rwanda.  Reported in the New times

 

Tuesday 27th October, 2009

14 Scottish varsities offer Ph.D scholarships

BY PENINNAH GATHONI

KIGALI - Fourteen Scottish universities will be providing scholarships to fourteen students from Rwanda to pursue their Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.Ds) studies in Scotland. This was revealed by the Executive Director of Higher Education Council, Prof Geoffrey Rugege, at a cocktail organized over the weekend to celebrate successes achieved through Rotary in Scotland University Scholarship scheme (RUSSR) program. This was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rosemary Museminali, who hailed the program for contributing to Rwanda’s development. She congratulated the students for their achievements as well as positively representing Rwanda abroad. Museminali noted that RUSSR scholarships have contributed, and are continuing to contribute, enormously to Rwanda’s resource base, particularly in terms of capacity building in the areas of science and technology that is crucial in achieving Rwanda’s vision 2020 of creating a knowledge-based economy. Since it was initiated in 2003, RUSSR has supported over 70 Rwandese students, who upon return, have been deployed in Government, civil society and private sector. Representing the students, Rosemary Mbabazi, commended the government and the Scottish Universities for providing such an opportunity The event also saw the announcement of an Alumni body that will consist of post-graduate students from Scotland. RUSSR, conceptualized and developed by Rwanda’s Honorary Consul in Scotland, Prof. Gerda Siann and Prof. Julian Siann, seeks to revitalize Rwanda by improving access to education and ensuring provision of skills to helping development of the economy. Reported by the New Times

Date 17^th October, 2009

 

Subject: Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Election of a new Committee

 

Dear Members;

 

Based on section p (i)-(v) of the Governing Constitution of the Rwandese Community Association in the UK (RCA), as adopted on the 22^nd day of June, 2001;

 

Considering the resolutions of the Committee Meeting of 10^th October, 2009;

 

I have the honour to invite you for RCA’s Annual General Meeting 2009 (AGM’09) and election of a new Committee. The AGM will take place on November 14^th, 2009 at The London Irish Centre, 50-52 Camden Square, London NW1 9XB, from 3pm (BST).

 

Please note that any member of the Rwandan Community in the UK is eligible to stand and be voted for any position.

 

Further information shall be sent to you in due course, and posted on RCA’s website at www.rwandansinuk.com

 

Looking forward to your presence,

 

Sincerely

 

Ignatius Mugabo

Chairman

TOKTEN and MIDA projects, which were under MIFOTRA, have
been transferred to the Diaspora General Directorate in
MINAFFET. The handover signing ceremony took place on
October 7, 2009 between Hon. Rosemary Museminali, Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Hon. Anastase
MUREKEZI, Minister of Public Service and Labour

TOKTEN is Transfer Of Knowledge Through Expatriate
Nationals, and MIDA is Migration for Development in Africa
Great Lakes Programme. MIDA Rwanda has the objective of
strengthening the capacities of public and private
institutions by mobilizing the skills and resources of the
Rwandan Diaspora settled in Europe. TOKTEN programme
supported by UNDP aims to support socio-economic
development through transfer of knowledge and technical
know-how to Rwanda on the basis of voluntary short term
service from highly qualified expatriate Rwandan Nationals
from North-America.

The purpose of the transfer to MINAFFET of these two
programs is to better coordinate efforts to promote
efficient contribution of Rwandan Diaspora to the national
socio-economic development of their Motherland.
see more detail on : www.minaffet.gov.rw

Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) has announced the revival of Miss Rwanda beauty contest, 17 years after it was last held.This was confirmed yesterday, at a press conference held by Rwandatel, the main sponsor of the 2009 contest.It was revealed that the telecommunication company will organise, coordinate and co-sponsor the beauty contest.

The search for Miss Rwanda started yesterday and registration will end on October 15.The search will cover the entire country, with registration points being set up in all the five provinces; Rwamagana, Musanze, Huye, Karongi, and Kigali City.

 

Contestants from each region will be brought to Kigali to compete in the finals.Criteria for the contestants have been set in accordance with Miss World standards, according to the organizers.These include being a Rwandan citizen of 18-25 years of age, at least 1.7 metres tall, morally upright, and with good public speaking skills. The contestants will also be judged based on the aspects to do with catwalk, confidence, eloquence and intelligence.

The 20 finalists will undergo a month-long training and the final competition will be held in Kigali, on December 19. Prizes  include, a car and  a trip to the Miss World pageant for the winner, cash prizes for the first and second runner-up and a host of other prizes.

 

In his remarks, the Minister of Culture and Sports Joseph Habineza said he was “happy to be associated with this new initiative to organise the Miss Rwanda beauty contest.” Flanked by the  former CEO of Rwandatel Patrick Kariningufu, Habineza said that the pageant is a celebration of Rwanda’s beauty as well as cultural pride. “Rwandatel is honoured by the confidence the Ministry has placed in us to host an event of this magnitude, for the first time in over 17 years,” Kariningufu said.

 

Meanwhile, a committee to manage Miss Rwanda will be put in place to ensure that the winner of this contest adheres with the set rules, behaves in a manner expected of beauty queens and to ensure that the institution of Miss Rwanda is respected.Rwandans in the Diaspora will also be allowed to participate in the contest, but they will have to register from within Rwanda.ys among others.