The past decade has seen the launch of a programme to rebuild and extend Rwanda's infrastructure, following the widespread damage inflicted to its roads and power and water networks during the genocide.

Infrastructure Minister Stanislas Kaman highlights the many investment opportunities in a wide range of infrastructure projects communications, public buildings, electricity, drinking water supply and sewerage.

Kaman says the long-term objective is for the country to become a transit area for the ports of Mombasa in Kenya, and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

"We have two classic corridors the northern corridor and the central corridor and both are operating well but we need funds to make sure the corridors are kept in a good state," says Kaman.

"A Chinese road and bridge company has been here and is doing a good job," he says. "There is potential for other operators from China."

Other transport routes

The government is also looking for partners to build a railway line from Kigali to the Tanzanian inland transport depot of Isaka.

Rwanda would then have rail access from the capital to Dar es Salaam.

"We will soon be starting a study, but we are also looking for potential investors to get involved. Currently we have a joint co-operation mission between China and Rwanda and this is one of the things we shall be discussing with them," says Kaman.

"We are not talking about this railway just servicing Rwanda, but all the Great Lakes countries."

Waterways

Although landlocked, Rwanda aims to make use of its lake system, particularly Lake Kivu which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

"Lake Kivu has huge tourism potential and is also important for the coffee, brewing and cement industries," says Kaman. "We need to ensure that there is a permanent lake transport system. In the past we had small ships but now we want to acquire a number of ships for cargo, tourism and passenger transport.

"This is a sector that needs investment and could be an opportunity for Chinese investors."

Aviation

Due to its rugged, mountainous terrain, Rwanda depends on aviation. The airport at Kigali has been upgraded, and the government is looking into building a new facility about 50 kilometres from Kigali. "This would answer our aviation needs and fits into the plan to make Rwanda a regional hub for commercial cargo distribution," says Kaman.

"I estimate that it shall be completed in about five to 10 years."

The government is also looking to upgrade the country's regional airports. Flag carrier RwandaAir is currently being prepared for privatization and the government is looking for partners.

"We are totally open to foreign investment in the civil aviation sector. We would welcome any Chinese businessmen who want to talk with us at this stage," explains Kaman.

Energy

Long over-dependent on hydroelectric power, Rwanda began diversifying supplies after low rainfall in 2003.

Energy and Communications Minister Albert Butare explains that the government's current big project is a methane gas plant, which by the end of next year should be generating around 30MW.

"The energy sector is open to Chinese investors," says Butare. "So far we have two Chinese companies looking at hydro projects. We think methane or geothermal would be interesting to a Chinese investor," he says.

(China Daily 10/13/2006 page18)