On Monday, August 7, President Paul Kagame and President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar held a private discussion (tête-à-tête) following their attendance at a Rwanda-Madagascar Business Forum in Kigali. During the forum, both leaders emphasized the crucial role of the private sector in driving the development ambitions of their respective countries.

President Kagame reiterated the idea that trade and investment are significant drivers of economic growth in both nations. He stressed that a more interconnected Africa leads to greater prosperity for the continent. To strengthen cooperation between their private sectors, the Economic Development Board of Madagascar (EDBM) and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) have agreed to establish a Business Council.

Expressing Rwanda’s willingness to explore opportunities in various sectors, President Kagame stated that the visit of President Rajoelina would open more doors for partnership. The potential sectors for collaboration include tourism, information and communications technology (ICT), mining, and agriculture, with the aim of achieving mutual benefits.

In light of recent extreme weather events affecting livelihoods, biodiversity, and infrastructure in both countries, President Kagame emphasized the importance of sharing expertise and learning from each other’s experiences to combat climate change’s adverse effects. He emphasized the need to mobilize domestic resources to build long-term resilience.

During the business forum, an agreement was signed between the Rwandan Private Sector Federation (PSF) and Madagascar’s Groupement des Entreprises de Madagascar (GEM) to facilitate collaboration and drive economic development.

President Rajoelina, who arrived in Rwanda for a three-day state visit, praised President Kagame’s leadership and acknowledged Rwanda’s significant progress in economic development. He commended Rwanda as a model of development in Africa and expressed his country’s commitment to follow Rwanda’s example. President Rajoelina was accompanied by a delegation comprising ministers, members of parliament, and representatives from the private sector.

The state visit included a State Banquet hosted by President Kagame in honor of President Rajoelina and his delegation. On the final day of his visit, President Rajoelina is scheduled to tour the Kigali Special Economic Zone, visiting Africa Improved Food and Gasabo Gold Refinery before exploring the City of Kigali.

Madagascar and Rwanda share commendable bilateral ties, and this visit further strengthens the cooperation between the two nations. President Kagame had previously visited Madagascar in June 2019 as a guest of honor during the country’s 59th anniversary of independence.