On the occasion of his six-day visit to Uganda and Rwanda, the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Dirk Niebel, has met with representatives of the German development cooperation in Rwanda’s capital Kigali to exchange about working in Rwanda, including the inherent chances and challenges. One member of the group, comprising nine participants, was Mr. Thomas Konitzer, who advises the Rwandan Ministry of Trade and Industry in setting up a vocational training facility for microfinance institutions, cooperatives and microentrepreneurs.

Minister Niebel appreciated Rwanda’s role as stabilising force in the economic and political integration of the region. He underlined that Germany will continue to be a strong development partner to Rwanda. Apart from the continuing reconciliation efforts after the genocide of 1994 and the forthcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for September, the Federal Minister was particularly interested in the support of the vocational education in Rwanda. In this context, Thomas Konitzer explained the significance of basic and advanced training for the microfinance sector in general, and for the performance of microfinance institutions and the supply of the poor, rural population with financial services in particular.

The visit of Minister Niebel concluded with a ceremonial reception at the German Ambassador’s residence, which was also attended by members of the partner ministries and the executing agencies of the German development cooperation. The Sparkassenstiftung was represented by Mrs. Britta Konitzer, who is in charge of the cooperation project to set up a microfinance association and strengthen financial literacy in Rwanda.

Contact partners for media inquiries:

Ferdinand Feldgen/ Christina Heuft
Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation
Simrockstraße 4
53113 Bonn / Germany

Tel.: 0228 9703-616 / -618
Fax: 0228 9703-613