The French Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, Franck Riester is expected in Kigali on Tuesday, October 26, The New Times has learnt. He will come for a one-day working visit to foster economic relations between France and Rwanda. A delegation of French companies and business operators will come with the minister to interact with Rwandan leaders as well as members of the private sector. The delegation led by Riester is set to hold several bilateral exchanges with different ministers including his counterpart Beata Habyarimana. Others will be Uzziel Ndagijimana of Finance and Economic Planning, Claver Gatete of Infrastructures and Paula Ingabire, the Minister of ICT and Innovation. In an exclusive interview with The New Times, the French Ambassador to Rwanda Antoine Anfré confirmed the development and asserted that the bilateral visit aims at fostering the economic ties between two countries. He did not disclose whether there are bilateral agreements that will be signed during the visit. One day before his visit, Rwanda will have also received the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian who will also be in Kigali on Monday, October 25. He will be attending the Ministerial meeting between the African Union and the European Union, preparing the AU-EU summit scheduled in February 2022. Rwanda and France have taken a number of steps to normalise bilateral relations. The efforts include the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Rwanda where he recognised the magnitude of France’s responsibilities in the Genocide and expressed solidarity with survivors. Another step taken was The Duclert Commission report, which was released in April this year pinning France over heavy responsibility in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Another report by a team of legal experts led by American jurist Robert F Muse from the Washington-based law firm Levy, Firestone Muse LLP detailed the role of France in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
