Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente met with Executive Director of the African Development Bank (AfDB) representing the Eastern Africa Constituency Jonathan Nzayikorera, on October 7 and discussed different areas of partnership that are priority including Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) among others

Nzayikorera represents Rwanda, Kenya, Seychelles, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Eretria at the AfDB board..

In his working visit to Rwanda, Nzayikorera briefed Ngirente on the ongoing projects between AfDB and Rwanda as well as discussions about additional desired areas of cooperation that the bank can focus on.

Areas mentioned include; improving skills development in TVETs, increasing access to clean water, rural electrification and other infrastructure projects.

"Our discussions with the Prime Minister focused on getting an orientation on areas to focus on while we advance development interests of Rwanda as a member and shareholder of the bank,” he said.

He added that the continental bank has a country strategic paper that defines areas of intervention tailored to each country’s areas of priority which operates under two pillars.

The pillars include, infrastructure development to reduce the cost of doing business and skills improvement for the private sector to thrive.

The bank has about US$1.4 billion worth of active projects in partnership with the government in areas such as roads, energy and water sectors.

Earlier this year, AfDB approved a US$180 million loan for extending electricity access to rural Rwanda. Rwanda aims to achieve 100 percent electrification by 2024 as per the National Strategy for Transformation target (2017-2024).