The Minister first gave an overview of Rwanda’s history, which he split into three phases- post-independence and the Rwandan genocide; the reconstruction efforts after the genocide; and post reconstruction and the development of Vision 2020.
Vision 2020 is a plan for the economic development of Rwanda. The Minister’s talk focused on Vision 2020 and Rwanda’s journey towards achieving this vision. The goals of Vision 2020 are to establish a green economy, increase foreign direct investment, promote industries with high growth potential, lift people from poverty, decrease inequality, and match educational outcomes with labor market needs.
Gatete discussed how the government of Rwanda is working to achieve these goals, by reforming civil service, instituting a zero tolerance policy towards corruption, enabling the business environment through reform, and providing incentives to businesses to setup in Rwanda.
This event, chaired by Dr. Danny Leipziger, Professor of International Business and International Affairs at George Washington University and Managing Director of the Growth Dialogue, was sponsored by the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, The Forum on International Development, and the International Growth Centre, a DFID-financed joint venture of Oxford University and the London School of Economics.