President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, July 29, received letters of credence from two newly appointed envoys Oman and New Zealand. The envoys are Nasra bint Salim bin Mohammed Al-Hashmi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Rwanda, with residence in Nairobi, and Olivia Charlotte Owen, High Commissioner of New Zealand to Rwanda, with residence in Addis Ababa. ALSO READ: Inside Rwanda's growing partnership with Oman Earlier in the day, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Usta Kayitesi, received copies of the diplomats' letters of credence, a customary step before the formal presentation to the Head of State. The accreditation comes as Rwanda continues to strengthen its bilateral cooperation with both countries across several sectors. Rwanda-Oman ties Rwanda and Oman have recently expanded their partnership through cooperation in transport, trade, investment and innovation. A major milestone was the launch of SalamAir's direct Muscat-Kigali flights on July 21. The twice-weekly service is expected to enhance connectivity between the Middle East and East Africa while boosting tourism, trade and investment opportunities. The route also links Kigali to SalamAir's wider network across the Gulf, Asia and Europe, with the journey between Muscat and Kigali taking approximately five hours and 50 minutes. Earlier this year, Rwanda and Oman further strengthened their relations during an official visit to Muscat by a Rwandan delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe. The two countries signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering logistics services, transportation, development, as well as ICT and innovation. ALSO READ: High Commissioner Muhizi presents credentials to New Zealand Governor General Rwanda-New Zealand relations Rwanda and New Zealand established diplomatic relations in April 2012 and have since maintained cordial ties. The two countries share common values through their membership in the Commonwealth, including a commitment to democratic governance, sustainable development and multilateral cooperation. The accreditation of the new High Commissioner is expected to further strengthen bilateral engagement and cooperation between both nations.
