Rwanda High Commissioner to India Jacqueline Mukangira attended the 4th Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for Central Gujarat held in Vadodara on June 29 and 30. Rwanda participated as a Country Partner alongside Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Ukraine, according to an official press release.
High Commissioner Highlights Strategic Partnership
During the inaugural session, Mukangira expressed appreciation to the Gujarat government for inviting Rwanda as a Country Partner. She congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister, acknowledging his leadership in enhancing India's global standing and strengthening India-Rwanda relations.
Mukangira emphasized the strong strategic partnership between Rwanda and India, built on mutual respect, cooperation, and growing economic engagement. She described Rwanda as a rapidly developing, stable, and investor-friendly destination with strong economic growth, low corruption, a favorable business environment, and strategic access to African markets.
Investment Opportunities in Key Sectors
The High Commissioner invited the Indian business community to explore investment opportunities in Rwanda across manufacturing, infrastructure, information and communication technology (ICT), agriculture, energy, tourism, healthcare, and mining. She highlighted attractive investment incentives and encouraged delegates to visit Rwanda, noting its natural beauty, unique tourism experiences, hospitality, and favorable visa arrangements.
On the conference margins, Mukangira participated in thematic sessions on emerging trends in agriculture and food systems, including AI in Agriculture for Smarter Decisions and Higher Productivity, Back to the Roots: Natural Farming is Shaping the Future of Agriculture, and Future Foods & Smart Processing: Trends Redefining the Food Industry. Three delegates from Rwanda also attended the conference.
Engagements with Indian Business Representatives and Media
Mukangira held meetings with various Indian business representatives, many of whom expressed interest in investment opportunities in Rwanda. She also interacted with several media houses. India is currently Rwanda's second-largest foreign investor and second-largest trading partner. A significant number of Indian investments in Rwanda originate from Gujarat, reflecting the growing economic partnership between Rwanda and the state.
The Central Gujarat Conference was the fourth regional conference under the Vibrant Gujarat initiative, following the North Gujarat Conference in Mehsana (October 2025), the Kutch and Saurashtra Conference in Rajkot (January), and the South Gujarat Conference in Surat (May). Rwanda has participated as a Country Partner in all four regional conferences.
Historical Ties and Upcoming Global Summit
Rwanda President Paul Kagame attended the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in January 2017 at Prime Minister Modi's invitation. The next Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit is scheduled for January 2027.
