Through Umuganda, we can fast-track dev’t

Editor, It was wonderful to see, on the front page of yesterday’s Sunday Times, His Excellency President Paul Kagame and the First Lady, Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, doing the monthly community work  (Umuganda).

Sunday, February 24, 2013
Residents of Kanyinya arrive to carryout Umuganda in Nyarugenge last Saturday. The New Times / File.

Editor,It was wonderful to see, on the front page of yesterday’s Sunday Times, His Excellency President Paul Kagame and the First Lady, Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, doing the monthly community work  (Umuganda).Yes, Rwanda’s Umuganda is a glowing example to the world. For sure, we, in India, can well borrow a leaf from this impressive community programme and help make our cities and our country a much better place to live in.We have planned an India Week in May this year, to be held in Rwanda, during which we expect to have the largest number of Indian visitors to this beautiful country.We shall work towards achieving this objective with close collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board and all concerned Government agencies, with the Indian Association of Rwanda, the Rwanda Private Sector Federation and of course with our two High Commissions in Kampala and New Delhi. Support for India Week 2013 in Rwanda will be solicited from the Indian Merchants’ Chamber , India Business Group , Mahratta Chamber of Commerce , Industries and Agriculture, Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vadodara Chamber of Commerce and Industry and many others.This event will surely enhance trade, tourism and investments into Rwanda, an exemplary land of a thousand hills and a million smiles.Clarence Fernandes