Rwanda Aims to Broaden Relationships with Rising Intermediary Nations Such as Kazakhstan, States Foreign Minister
Revamped Rewrite
Kazakhstan's burgeoning clout as an emerging middle power catches Rwanda's eye, according to Olivier Nduhungirehe, Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. In a chat with The Astana Times during last year's Astana International Forum (AIF), he emphasized the growing value in building ties with nations like Kazakhstan.
Foster a Closer Bond
Last May, Rwandan President Paul Kagame graced Kazakhstan with his second official visit, marking a full decade since his last journey in 2015. This visit further cemented the bond between the African nations and Kazakhstan.
"For the past six and a half decades, I would say, Rwanda, along with most African countries, had relations and trade relations predominantly with the typical partners—Western Europe, former colonial powers, the United States, China, and such," Nduhungirehe acknowledged. "But now we grasp that there are middle emerging powers, like Kazakhstan, located at the heart of Eurasia, who boast riches in minerals, agriculture, and industry. That's crucial for Rwanda and Africa."
Six Golden Fields
During Kagame's visit, both countries inked six agreements that promise to beef up cooperation in crucial sectors, including political consultations, information and communication technology (ICT), finance cooperation, agriculture, education, and mining.
"These areas form the basis for strong cooperation," Nduhungirehe stated. "The President also agreed to establish a business council between Kazakhstan and Rwanda."
"Moreover, Kazakhstan's National Space Center piqued our interest," he added. "Rwanda boasts a robust digital infrastructure, with more than 7,000 kilometers of fiber optics, which covers 95% of the country with connections. We'd like to capitalize on this sector, positioning ourselves side by side with Kazakhstan."
A Digital Partnership
Both countries embrace a symbiotic relationship in the realm of digitalization. "We're making considerable progress in the e-government sector, and we're aware that Kazakhstan is equally strong in this field," declared Nduhungirehe. "The Minister of Foreign Affairs informed me that 94% of services are dispensed through service apps on mobile devices, which we can definitely learn from."
The agreements advocate for a boost in trade between the two countries, currently valued at approximately $1 billion.
"You will also find the Trans-Afghan route, which will traverse Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and provide access to Pakistan, Oman, and the Indian Ocean. Establishing this route will make it simpler to connect Kazakhstan and Africa," explained Nduhungirehe. "The trade between Kazakhstan and Africa is still minimal. I think it's $1 billion, but for a continent of 1.3 billion people, that's still modest. Fortunately, it's steadily increasing."
A Brighter Future
"We are optimistic that as Kazakhstan ascends into the ranks of middle power, African countries will become increasingly eager to invest in Kazakhstan and forge trade partnerships," said Nduhungirehe. "I believe that in the next 5-10 years, we'll see really robust relations, increased trade, and investment between the two countries as well as between Kazakhstan and Africa."
Rwanda primarily exports coffee, tea, and potentially minerals to Kazakhstan. President Kagame emphasized the significance of cultivating cooperation in agriculture and education sectors. Furthermore, the nations have agreed to engage in regular political consultations to collaborate on matters of international importance, such as conflicts, war, peace, and global trade.
"When discussing with my counterpart, [Kazakh] Minister of Foreign Affairs, we concur on numerous international issues," Nduhungirehe shared. "It's necessary, now that we have signed the agreement on political consultations, to convene regular meetings between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs to discuss matters like trade, conflicts, peace, security, tariffs, climate change, and migration."
- The six agreements signed during Kagame's visit have set a foundation for strengthened cooperation in crucial sectors, such as political consultations and information and communication technology (ICT), which is a growth area for both nations.
- Recognizing the value of building ties with nations like Kazakhstan, Rwanda is eager to increase trade and investment with this emerging middle power, particularly in areas like agriculture, education, and mining.
