Rwanda and Barbados have signed a partnership agreement to promote aviation and tourism services between the two countries which will pave the way toward the underlying program of connecting flight routes from Kigali to the Caribbean country.
The two countries also signed a partnership deal on the promotion of sports in which the new game of Road Tennis will be introduced in Rwanda for the first time.
The partnership was signed by Eng. Ernest Nsabimana, the Minister of Infrastructure on behalf of the Rwandan government and Kerrie D. Symmonds, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade for Barbados.
Speaking at the signing event, Minister Nsabimana said, the partnership will enable Rwanda to become a tourism and aviation hub in the region and on the global level.
With the partnership arrangements, Minister Nsabimana said Rwanda will be able to lobby a deal in which the national carrier would open routes to Barbados in the near future.
He said the partnership is aligned with Rwanda’s vision of becoming an aviation and tourism hub in the region.
“When you look at the Construction of Bugesera Airport being constructed and the flights that are opening in partner countries around the world it indicates the country’s vision,” he said.
“This agreement will open trade doors between the two countries allowing aviation companies in respective countries to start working together,” Nsabimana said adding that “After the partnership agreement, there are also other business partnerships to follow in other areas.”
Also according to Nsabimana opening direct routes to Barbados a country that is highly ranked well in tourism in the world would benefit Rwanda too.
Barbados and Rwanda also share investment interests in learning from ongoing ICT inclusion in service delivery.
Barbados is ranked 11th in the Caribbean and 19 in the world generating US$1.13 billion in the tourism sector alone.
In June, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and Invest Barbados signed an agreement at the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) to promote and implement strategic private sector investments in both countries.
The strategic sectors mentioned in the agreement to promote the strategic sector in both countries included Agro-processing for local and export markets, Tourism, Health, Mining, Real Estate and Financial Services
