Belgian deputy prime ministers, Alexander De Croo (middle) gets a guided tour at one of the projects
Belgian deputy prime ministers, Alexander De Croo and his counterpart Didier Reunders are in Rwanda to strengthen ties, a move which comes a few weeks after the later withheld a part of program funding in Rwanda.
In December, last year 2014, the Belgium government announced a withhold of the last batch of financial support to Rwanda’s development programs citing issues of some criteria which are irrelevant and not met as per the threshold that decided upon in 2011.
“After an assessment of those criterias, the Belgian side has found that the extra budget could not be disbursed, since some criteria are no longer relevant and other criteria have not entirely been met” a statement read.
The two deputy premiers arrived in Rwanda this week and will be visiting various projects that are sponsored by the Belgian government.
Speaking to the press, this January 6, 2015, Honorable Alexander De Croo said that the main objective of their visit is to look into the bilateral relationship between the two countries and find ways of effectively working together to develop local communities.
Alexander De Croo, cited some of the Belgian sponsored infrastructure projects such as boosting the access to electricity, which he said that such projects have been vital in transforming lives of Rwandans and it is evident today.
Rwanda has so far attained a target of 22 percent of the 70 percent electricity access for all by 2018, which will be seen by attaining a supply of about 563 megawatts.
Some of the projects that will be visited by the Belgian delegation include the electricity distribution project in Gikondo, Skol breweries factory, Nyamata Health center and energy projects such as Mobisol among others.
This is expected to give the delegation a view of how Rwanda has been using the donation and funding for some of the major projects in the country.
In an earlier statement from the Belgian embassy, the Belgium government said it continues to value the partnership with the Government of Rwanda and commends Rwanda for the impressive results in its social-economic development, the reduction of poverty and the improving living conditions of population.