Kigali and Busan, a major coastal city in South Korea, are exploring new partnerships in smart city innovation, tourism promotion, and investment, according to Mayor of Kigali Samuel Dusengiyumva. Speaking on Busan e-FM radio following discussions with his counterpart in South Korea during the 2025 Busan Global City Tourism Summit, Dusengiyumva said the visit had two main objectives. “One is we responded to an invitation by the mayor of Busan to attend the first-ever Global City Tourism Summit,” Dusengiyumva said. “The second is to follow up on a visit by President Paul Kagame, where Busan was identified as one of the strategic partners in city-to-city cooperation.” ALSO READ: Kagame, South Korea president talk cooperation Dusengiyumva also said that the two cities plan to collaborate, with a key goal being to increase the flow of people between Busan and Kigali for holidays, studies, and business. “We also want to leverage innovation and technology because Busan has made remarkable progress in this area, from which we can learn,” he added. He noted that the two cities are discussing concrete steps to unlock opportunities for investment and cultural collaboration. “I saw a lot of huge real estate development in Busan. There is a huge market of real estate in Kigali. I call on investors to come to Kigali. We’ll facilitate them and ensure they maximize their investments.” ALSO READ: Rwanda, Republic of Korea collaborate on shaping the future of Rwandan startups He noted that Kigali’s approach to urban development avoids relocating residents unnecessarily: people are rehoused in the same area while high-rise structures are built, securing land for future development. Tourism and culture will also be central to the partnership. The mayors plan to promote mutual visits and strengthen ties through traditional dance, taekwondo, and culinary exchanges. They also aim to highlight Rwanda’s ‘Visit Rwanda’ campaign alongside global sports partnerships with clubs such as Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, and the LA Clippers. Culinary arts, Dusengiyumva said, will be a key area of exchange. “The two cities share many commonalities, and our job as mayors is to ensure these partnerships benefit our people,” he added. He hailed Busan’s progress in AI-driven city management and the 15-minute city concept, noting that Kigali hopes to draw lessons from the city as it advances its own smart city agenda. Busan’s achievements in the Smart City Index, he said, also offer valuable guidance for Kigali as it positions itself as a global gateway for innovation and sustainable growth. In 2023, Kigali was ranked as Africa’s top smart city among 30 cities assessed in the African Smart City Index. Rwanda and South Korea have strengthened cooperation through several agreements over the years. In 2024, officials from both countries inked a US$1 billion framework arrangement to provide concessional funding for projects in key sectors of the Rwandan economy, including transportation, healthcare, and education. In 2023, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations and a Framework Arrangement on the Economic Development Cooperation Fund. Earlier, in November 2020, Rwanda and South Korea signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement to enhance connectivity between the two countries and enable their private sectors to explore economic and social opportunities.
