By King’s Office Correspondents
KIGALI, RWANDA: His Majesty the King would like to see Eswatini enhance her food self-sufficiency capacity by drawing lessons from Rwanda’s advanced agricultural sector.
Agriculture reportedly contributes more than 40 per cent of Rwanda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the 14,4 million people and is almost exclusively agriculturally based,
with more than 90 per cent of the population earning a livelihood by producing food crops or through industrial work involving the processing of crops.
The government is now moving citizens from subsistence farming to commercial and industrialised agriculture.
Speaking during a courtesy call on Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the state house at Urugiwo Village on Tuesday, the King urged the two countries to also expand their cooperation agreements to the tourism and trade sectors that offer promising opportunities.
“In looking forward to the future, let us enhance our bilateral relations and cooperation in different areas, such as in the agricultural sector, where your country is well advanced.
Our country could benefit from learning your best practices and technology to improve productivity,” he said.
The King also noted how both countries were renowned as global tourist destinations, which presented a potential for collaboration in the tourism sector by creating packages that would attract more visitors from around the world.
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In terms of trade between the two countries, the King made reference to the two countries’ membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Our visit here aims to improve business opportunities for our countries and people.
We urge our entrepreneurs to take advantage of the investment opportunities that will be available,” said His Majesty.
The King also expressed Eswatini’s gratitude to the Rwandan government for the exchange programs, which have seen senior government officials and members of the business community share skills and experiences with each other.
The health sector was also identified as a beneficiary of Rwandan skills through the medical experts who have plied their trade in the kingdom.
