African Reflections | The New Face(s) Of Business in East AfricaFor a country that recently went through its own Holocaust, life in Rwanda is, on the surface, surprisingly normal. Or is it?When the idea of a trip to Rwanda first came up a few weeks ago, I was a bit ambivalent. Business duty may call, but Rwanda is, after all, the heart of Africa, the site of a recent genocide, ground zero for HIV/AIDS, 10 time zones, and 30 hours of transit time away — assuming the flight connections all work. And then there’s the matter of $1,000 in immunization shots… Read the full story 
Americans finding purpose in hopes for Africa's futureKIGALI, Rwanda — On the last day of spring, Tom Wheeler left home in Southern California with his wife, his two kids and two audacious dreams.As a civil engineer, he hopes to bring standard, nicely paved sidewalks to a city with almost none. As a follower of Rick Warren, the evangelist who wrote the bestseller The Purpose Driven Life, Wheeler dreams of making Rwanda the world's first "purpose-driven nation." That means spreading the Gospel and helping this tiny African country, which 14 years ago endured the worst genocide since the Holocaust, continue its unlikely journey toward peace and prosperity. Read the full story 
In Rwanda, cyclists rev up a nationU.S. enthusiasts help build team in a place where biking is a way of life.BUTARE, Rwanda - Daniel Cooper was steering his bike up into the lush hills of northwestern Rwanda, taking in the scene's beauty, when he realized he wasn't riding alone. Someone was behind the Chicago-area stock trader, pedaling hard and gaining ground on the long rocky incline. Soon villagers were lining the road, cheery wildly, and Cooper was locked in an impromptu race. He had the clear advantage - clad in sleek lycra, riding a lightweight aluminum, full-suspension mountain bike. Read the full story 
Rwanda - Land Of A Thousand HillsJo McLeod, 2 October 2007People gasped in horror when we told them we were going to Rwanda on holiday. 'It's so dangerous', 'Are you crazy' was the general response. So I'd like to set the record straight and let people know that Rwanda has to be one of the most beautiful and peaceful countries I have ever visited. They experienced a genocide too horrific to even contemplate. That was 13 years ago. It is not forgotten by any means, but it is certainly being dealt with. The purpose of our holiday was to mountain bike around the country. There were 9 of us, me and 8 lovely men. The fact that my suitcase never ever arrived did have it?s downside, but nothing insurmountable. I guess having a girlfriend in Rwanda the same size as me who cycles was a gift. I have no idea what I would have done without her. But I do know I would have missed out on the most spectacular riding I have ever experienced. Read the full story 
Kagame Meets Railway ExpertIsaka-Kigali line pilot study to be signed on April 27President Paul Kagame yesterday held talks with a delegation from the United States-based BNSF Railway Corporation, in a bid to expedite the construction of the railway connecting Rwanda to other regional countries. According to the BNSF Assistant Vice-President (Service Design and Performance), John Orrison, the discussions revolved around kick-starting the railway line that will link Kigali to Tanzania’s dry port of Isaka. Read the full story 
"For God's Sake, Please Stop the Aid!"THE KENYAN ECONOMICS EXPERT James Shikwati, insists that aid to Africa is doing more harm than good. The avid proponent of globalization spoke about the disastrous effects of Western aid policy in Africa.SPIEGEL: Mr. Shikwati, the G8 summit is about to beef up aid for Africa... Shikwati: ... for God's sake, please just stop! SPIEGEL: Stop? The nations of the West want to eliminate hunger and poverty. Shikwati: Such intentions have been damaging our continent for the past 40 years. 
Fitch Ratings has assigned a ‘B–’ foreign currency rating to Rwanda with a Positive Outlook. Rwanda’s rating is supported by a good track record of macroeconomic management and reforms, and the receipt of substantial bilateral and multilateral debt relief in 2005 and 2006. Substantial donor aid flows are supporting the development efforts. Growth averaged 5.5% in 2000-2006 after an average of 16% in the 1995-1999 post-conflict period, the economy has been liberalised and key sectors such as the banking sector and the coffee and tea sectors have been restructured. The investment rate is projected to increase to over 25% of GDP in 2007-2008 from below 10% in 2000, laying the foundations for further productivity gains. Read the full story 
Rwanda ReduxWhen Arthur Karuletwa left Rwanda in 1995 to study in the United States, there was not much to lure him back. The year before, the country had en-dured such terrible destruction that it took more than a year of sustained effort just to bury the dead. Gérard Prunier, the best historian of the genocide, was so cynical about Rwanda’s pros-pects that he thought a return to killing inevitable, to “be covered by an eager media, for the benefit of a conventionally horrified public opinion which will finance another round of humanitarian aid.”Read the full story 
Why CEOs love RwandaAs a small African nation recovers from genocide, Google, Starbucks and Costco lend a hand. Fortune's Marc Gunther reports.NEW YORK (Fortune) -- It's not every day that an African head of state delivers a corporate endorsement at an annual shareholder meeting. But Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda, did just that last week at Starbucks' meeting in Seattle. Read the full story |
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