Kagame addresses US business leaders

President Paul Kagame yesterday addressed a gathering of business leaders at a breakfast hosted by the Washington, D.C chapter of the Young Presidents Organisations. Speaking on leadership and the progress Rwanda has experienced over the last two decades, Kagame pointed to the choices the country has made to move forward. “When faced with a challenging situation, you ask yourself what is the alternative. We chose to turn around our situation and leave history behind. We chose to give confidence to our people that they can overcome any adversity.” The President shared Rwandas vision for the future as one defined by transformation and prosperity for all. He added that development of individual nations can only be sustainable with the transformation of the continent, adding that Rwanda was committed to progress at home and beyond. Later, Kagame attended a Presidential Breakfast Discussion with his counterparts from the East African Community (EAC). Hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce, EAC, the East Africa Exchange and the Whitaker Group, the discussion brought together the East African leaders with members of one of the largest business organisations in the world to discuss regional integration as well as opportunities for investment in the region. While in the US, President Kagame also held bilateral meetings with the President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Young Kim, and the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization, representing the interests of more than three million businesses. The Young Presidents’ Organisation unites approximately 22,000 business leaders in more than 125 countries around a shared mission: Better Leaders Through Education and Idea Exchange. President Kagame, who concluded his visit yesterday, was in the US to attend US-Africa Leaders Summit hosted by President Barack Obama and attended by about 50 African Heads of State and Government.

National

Kagame addresses US business leaders