H.E. Yatiman Yusof, Non-Resident High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to Rwanda and Kenya made the remarks on July 5, 2013 during a discussion with Rwanda’s foreign affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, in Kigali.
High Commissioner Yatiman Yusof commended Rwanda’s advanced step in economic development and expressed the will of the Singaporean government to uplift the bilateral cooperation in line with priorities dressed by both parties.
Hon. Mushikiwabo said that Rwanda needs skilled people in service delivery to become a knowledge-based economy by 2020 and that cooperation in that area with Singapore would be commendable.
Hon. Mushikiwabo briefed the Ambassador on some key ongoing projects notably the Kigali International Convention Complex, under construction, to be completed by the year 2014.
Amb. Yusof also acknowledged Rwanda’s support to Singapore during the recent International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) elections.
Both officials praised the existing bilateral cooperation and vowed to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
Their discussion focused on Energy, Infrastructure and Crosscutting Business.
During his three-day visit to Rwanda, High Commissioner Yatiman Yusof also met different officials in Rwandan public institutions and discussed on prospective projects that would be conducted in the near future under the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
H.E. Yatiman Yusof was appointed as Singapore’s first Non-Resident High Commissioner to Rwanda in October 2009.
The ambassador also toured the City of Kigali, the Ministry of Education, Rwanda Development Board, Ministry of Youth and ICT, Ministry of East African Community, Ministry of Infrastructure, as well as the Private Sector Federation.
The cooperation between Rwanda and Singapore has much focused on public sector capacity building. Moreover, different Singapore based companies have shown interest in working with Rwandan institutions in the areas of infrastructure development, E-government, vocational training, culture promotion, tourism, aviation, food and beverage, among others.
Singapore is represented by its Non-Resident High Commissioner, H.E. Yatiman Yusuf accredited to the Republic of Rwanda since January 2010 and Kenya with residence in Singapore while Rwanda’s High Commissioner in Singapore, Mrs. Jeannine KAMBANDA presented credentials on September 30, 2010.