Deepening cooperation in technology and trade is among the key priorities for diplomat Innocent Muhizi as he begins his tenure as Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Singapore, he said on Monday, November 17, after presenting his letters of credence to Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the Singaporean president. ALSO READ: Rwanda, Singapore sign carbon credit deal Muhizi, 49, is a technology and business executive who boasts over two decades of experience across the public and private sectors. He most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), a public institution mandated to lead the country’s digital transformation. “We look forward to fostering stronger ties in trade, investment, technology, and innovation, and to building partnerships that advance mutual prosperity for our nations,” he said after presenting the letters of credence. According to a statement from the Rwandan High Commission in Singapore, President Tharman “welcomed Muhizi and reaffirmed Singapore’s readiness to elevate cooperation with Rwanda to the next level,” both bilaterally and through multilateral platforms. Rwanda-Singapore relations cover several strategic areas including technology and innovation, digital transformation, education and skills development, green technologies, and sustainable urban development. ALSO READ: Rwanda, Singapore launch world’s first AI “Playbook” at UN Summit For instance, the two countries have partnered to promote financial inclusion through FinTech. Last year, Rwanda and Singapore jointly organised the second edition of the Inclusive FinTech Forum, which has grown into a platform for promoting inclusive and sustainable fintech in Africa and other emerging markets. Ongoing negotiations are exploring a potential collaboration between the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) and Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay to transform Sunday Park, an urban park in Kigali, into a high-end, eco-friendly green space. The project is expected to complement the Kigali Golf Course and enhance the surrounding area for both residents and visitors. During the ceremony, the High Commissioner conveyed greetings from President Paul Kagame and reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Singapore. During his tenure at RISA, Muhizi spearheaded initiatives in e-governance, ICT skills development, cybersecurity, the adoption of emerging technologies, and ICT infrastructure expansion. ALSO READ: Africa-Singapore trade surges 50% in five years Prior to joining RISA, he served as Regional Chief Information Officer for Access Holdings Bank, overseeing digital transformation across its operations in Rwanda, Zambia, and Liberia. He also previously worked as CIO and Head of Transactional Banking Services at I&M Bank Rwanda. Muhizi holds a Master of Science in Information Technology from the University of Pretoria in South Africa and a dual bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and Business Management from La Roche University in Pittsburgh, USA.
