Rwanda has entered into an agreement with Hungary to train and educate Rwandans in different fields including effective use of nuclear energy.
The agreement is part of the three MoUs signed between the two countries on July 16, during the official visit of Hungarian President Katalin Novák to Rwanda where she was hosted by President Paul Kagame.
The two Heads of State witnessed the signing of MoUs on the training of Rwandan experts on atomic and peaceful use of nuclear energy, a Stipendium Hungaricum agreement as well as a loan facility agreement on upgrading of the Karenge water treatment plant.
During a press briefing at the President’s office, Kagame also announced Rwanda’s intention to open diplomatic presence in Budapest which he said, will foster and enable an environment for business.
“Our cooperation in the field of education is also very important. So far 41 Rwandans have received scholarships to study in Hungary universities, and today we have agreed to extend this programme. We appreciate that. We’ll also be working with Hungary to train Rwandans in the field of nuclear energy, an important component of our future energy plants,” Kagame said.
He added that: “Through the new agreements signed, we are committed to build on this shared vision and create mutually beneficial opportunities for the people of Rwanda and Hungary. We appreciate the significant loan provided by Hungary to upgrade the Karenge water treatment plant. We hope to benefit from Hungary’s expertise in water management.”
As part of the agreements, Hungary will be extending a $52 million credit line to Rwanda for the plant upgrade.
In addition to increased water production, it is expected that the credit line will also be utilized to build a six-kilometer water supply network while Hungarian companies will contribute to the implementation of the project.
Hungary has very developed water management and water industry technologies. The US$52 million will be used to modernize and extend the capacities of the water treatment plant of Kigali from 15,000 to 36,000 cubic meters on a daily basis.
Hungarian companies are ready to provide the engineering and planning functions, the technical support. Products and technologies which are going to be applied here, will be developed in Hungary.
President Novák who is the first Hungarian President to visit Rwanda and said that her country is a doorway to the European Union, just like Rwanda is a doorway to the African continent, that makes the situation of the two countries unique.
“Hungary is bigger in size, but our population is almost similar. We need to focus on how we cooperate based on a mutual respect because that is what we can offer as Hungarians, the respect for you, for your way of life, for your people and for your nation; and that is what we expect also from our allies. It is this mutual respect background which our corporation already lies on and which it is going to fly on in the future as well,” she said.
Hungary recently opened a trade and cooperation counselor mission in Kigali.
Novák is also in Rwanda to attend the ongoing Women Deliver Conference and she told President Kagame that: “Your Invitation to women deliver proof for our common commitment to empowering women. I thank you for what I have done in this respect.”
Part of Novák and Kagame discussion centered on the war in Ukraine of which both agreed on the need to restore peace.
“We spoke about the wars happening in our neighboring countries and of course for us Hungarians, the war in our direct neighborhood in Ukraine, it is very alarming. This meeting just offered us a chance to speak about the importance of peace. We can also learn from you how to appreciate a peace situation and the lack of it in a war conflict. So that is why we stand for peace in Ukraine, and we try to do our best to reach peace negotiations and peace in general,” she said.
Almost 2 million Ukrainian refugees escaped to Hungary or through Hungary.
