Singapore to support Rwanda's industrial parks development

The Government of Singapore has pledged to support Rwanda in the ongoing process of developing industrial parks in various parts of the country as well as developing strategies to promote small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The pledge was made during a meeting between the Minister of Trade and Industry, Honourable Francois Kanimba, and Singapore’s Minister of Trade, Hon Lim Hng Kiang, during the former’s one-day official visit to Singapore early this week. A statement from Rwanda’s High Commission in Singapore indicates that Kanimba appreciated the offer stating that the technical support from Singapore is “very valuable” given the experience and relevant expertise that Singapore has developed over the past decades to become a global leader in industrial Parks’ development and management. A few years ago, Rwanda had adopted plans to set up four provincial industrial parks in Bugesera, Huye, Nyabihu and Rusizi districts in a move that was aimed at spurring local development and boosting the manufacturing sector. The government intends to further add more industrial parks of Rwamagana, Nyagatare, Musanze and Muhanga industrial parks in coming years, as the country seeks to become an industrial nucleus. During the visit, Kanimba, together with the High Commissioner of Rwanda to Singapore, Ambassador Guillaume Kavaruganda, also visited and met with senior officials of Surbana-Jurong Consultancy firm and Sembcorp Group, the two leading industrial parks developers in Singapore, to explore opportunities for collaboration. “The (visiting) team was also given a comprehensive tour of ‘Biopolis Industrial park’ in Singapore, which is a modern high-tech facility,” a statement released after the visit reads in part. The Minister also had an in-depth discussion with SPRING Singapore, a government agency that is responsible for incubating and supporting the growth of start-up companies and SMEs, according to the statement. The Minister of Trade of Singapore, Lim Hng Kiang, further expressed that the government of Singapore is considering sending a delegation to Rwanda, which will, among others, sign the already negotiated ‘Bilateral Investment Treaty’ for the mutual protection and promotion of investments. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Singapore to support Rwanda's industrial parks development