Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – President Paul Kagame has said that the essence of globalization and cooperation lies in each country’s ability to take care of its own business first, before meaningfully engaging the world.
Speaking at the 9th Future Investment Initiative (FII9) in Riyadh, President Kagame emphasized that for nations to benefit from global trade and investment, they must first cultivate internal stability, accountability, and self-reliance.
“We talked so much about globalization, about cooperation, working with each other, but the starting point is always going to be: how you deal with your own business, whether it is a business or a country,” he said.
He noted that Rwanda’s approach to investment and development over the past three decades has been shaped by this philosophy — focusing first on national renewal, internal reform, and building institutions that inspire trust and attract external partners.
“We have learnt to take care of our business by holding ourselves accountable, by holding each other accountable, and by making sure that we are able to measure the results we get throughout this journey we have undertaken,” President Kagame explained.
The Head of State highlighted Rwanda’s transformation from total collapse 30 years ago to a resilient, forward-looking economy, crediting this success to hard choices made after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“The country was not there and was completely destroyed. Those of us who survived the tragedy had to make a choice: do we go along with the destruction and disappear ourselves? Or do we do something and live again and later on connect with the rest of the world?” he recalled.
President Kagame stressed that Rwanda’s recovery and growing appeal as an investment destination stem from a deliberate effort to understand and overcome its limitations, while creating space for global collaboration.
“We don’t forget to cooperate with others across the world. We prepare the ground for other people from outside who can come and make investments with us or do trade with us, and cooperate in all kinds of ways,” he said.
He added that Rwanda’s development strategy remains guided by a balance between self-reliance and openness:
“We have prioritized knowing our limitations but also knowing how to go around these limitations, tapping into our own potential but also what others bring from outside.”
The Future Investment Initiative, held annually in Saudi Arabia, gathers global leaders, investors, and policymakers to explore emerging opportunities shaping the world economy.
President Kagame’s remarks resonated with the summit’s focus on “Investing in Humanity,” reaffirming Rwanda’s position as a country that has rebuilt itself through discipline, accountability, and partnership — and is now open for business with the world.
