ISLAMABAD, A delegation from Rwanda, headed by Dr. Kalinda Francois Xavier, President of the Senate of Rwanda, is in Pakistan for a four-day visit to foster bilateral ties, with a marked emphasis on Information Technology (IT) and economic collaboration. Invited by Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, the team has engaged in a series of pivotal meetings targeting an augmentation of bilateral relations.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the Rwandan delegation’s itinerary involved consultations with pivotal Pakistani officials and institutions to pinpoint potential areas of mutual interest. Salient among these were interactions with the Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Dr. Umar Saif; a trip to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCI); and deliberations with Sitara Ayaz, the Secretary General of the International Parliamentarians Congress (IPC).
During the dialogue with Dr. Umar Saif, Dr. Kalinda underscored Rwanda’s interest in seeing Pakistan expand its footprint in Rwanda, particularly within the IT realm. The Minister shed light on Pakistan’s thriving IT market, highlighting its extensive cellphone user base and production capacity. An emphasis was placed on Pakistan’s intent to export mobile phones to African nations, aiming to further solidify its standing in the IT industry.
The Rwandan Ambassador voiced the importance of a consolidated framework for collaboration, hinting at the possible inking of MoUs in Defense and Health, with ongoing discussions for agreements in other domains, including a strong inclination towards an MoU in the IT sector.
At the ICCI, discussions revolved around bolstering bilateral trade ties. Ahsan Zafer Bakhtwari, the ICCI President, stressed the benefits of establishing a Rwandan embassy in Islamabad, foreseeing it as a conduit to enhanced trade and investment channels. A pivotal point was the operationalization of the “look Africa” Policy, aimed at accentuating trade and investment flows between both nations.
The Rwandan team extended an invitation to the ICCI to undertake a Rwandan visit, emphasizing their nation’s readiness to open its doors to Pakistani investment.
Furthermore, Dr. Kalinda led the delegation in discussions with the Secretary General of the IPC, Sitara Ayaz, aiming to fortify parliamentary ties globally. A deep dive into the IPC’s structure and offerings ensued, with an aspirational note that Rwanda might soon join the IPC’s member base, currently spanning 56 countries.
Sitara Ayaz shed light on the IPC’s strides in its two-year journey, underscoring its mission of knitting together global parliamentarians and facilitating experience exchange. She also highlighted upcoming training initiatives and research provisions tailored for parliamentarians.
With the Rwandan delegates expressing genuine interest in the IPC’s initiatives and a potential membership, Dr. Kalinda Francois Xavier capped off the meetings by voicing his appreciation for the hospitality extended during their Pakistan stay. He envisioned the discussions as the advent of a promising era of Rwanda-Pakistan collaboration.