|
|
|
 |
 |
| Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda.
|
Africa and Rwanda: Doing business on its own terms
The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY School) hosted a public lecture in honour of one of Africa’s most able leaders, Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda. Mr. Kagame has been largely credited by the world community for ending the ethnic violence in his country and steering it towards a path of development and prosperity.
President Kagame gave an inspiring and thoughtful lecture to a gathering of over 400 people at the Shangri-La Hotel on Rwanda’s transition from a country which faced deep socio-economic and political crises to becoming a nation that can now aspire to a brighter and a more prosperous future.
Private investment is the real basis for economic growth, greater prosperity and improved lives. The African Continent has experienced a six percent growth rate average in the last several years, with Foreign Direct Investment doubling between 2004 and 2006 to reach thirty nine billion dollars. |
The African leader delivered a key message in Singapore: Perceptions and stereotype of Africa and Rwanda as perpetual “basket cases” and “donor havens” only sustained by aid, charity and pity no longer correspond to contemporary development of the past decade. Rwanda has undertaken considerable reforms leading to serious domestic and foreign investment.
 |
|
President Paul Kagame and Prof. Kishore Mahbubani. |
In his introductory comments on the President, Prof. Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of LKY School noted: “His life story is remarkable. For most of his adult life, President Kagame has been a soldier. Under his military leadership, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) assumed power in the year 1994.”
He further added: “President Kagame assumed presidency in April 2000. Under his leadership, Rwanda’s economy has done well. Improvements in health care, increased education opportunities and an investor-friendly environment are some of the accomplishments that have started to take root in the country.”
Through practicing a doctrine of security, guided reconciliation, anti-corruption, and above all a drive toward self-reliance over several years, Mr. Kagame has produced economic growth rates of over 5 percent a year for Rwanda.
In the case of Rwanda, we look at countries like Singapore as inspirational development models due to the rapid pace at which you successfully transformed your country. |
He has single-handedly redefined the way African leaders should engage the best of the Western and Eastern world.He has appointed some the world's greatest minds in business and strategic investment to his council of economic advisers. President Bill Clinton recently appointed him to the board of the Clinton Global Initiative. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has also become an advisor to the Rwandan government. Bill Gates is reported to be working closely with President Kagame in improving the state of Rwanda’s health sector.
 |
|
Left to right: Prof. Kishore Mahbubani, President Paul Kagame and Senior Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Zainal Abidin Rasheed. |
Defying the image of “The Hopeless Continent” as a term used by The Economist on its cover story several years back, Mr. Kagame said: “Globalisation and its undoubted increasing pace can be noticed in the form of larger flows of foreign investment, finance and innovation into Africa, as well as the rest of the world. The African Continent has experienced a six percent growth rate average in the last several years, with Foreign Direct Investment doubling between 2004 and 2006 to reach thirty nine billion dollars.”
“We are convinced that private investment is the real basis for economic growth, greater prosperity and improved lives,” he said. “Success on this front certainly demands relentless and focussed efforts at dispelling the misconceptions that paint our country and continent as unfit for business.”
In response to a question asked by a student of LKY School on the state of the African Union and what changes are necessary in the future for African countries to succeed economically, Mr. Kagame responded: “Africa cannot be managed by outsiders.
Africa cannot be managed by outsiders. The African mindset must be prepared to change. People must evaluate whether businesses and Governments are representing their interests. |
The African mindset must be prepared to change. Africans must evaluate whether businesses and Governments are representing their interests. As Africans we cannot only build on commonality but also build on adversity.”
|
|
|
| | | 
