Kigali, 11 February 2013
Amb.Kunio Hatanaka, Japanese first Ambassador to Rwanda today paid a courtesy call on President Kagame, to bid him farewell at the conclusion of his three-year tour of duty. The outgoing envoy also took the chance to extend the invitation from the Japanese Government to President Kagame to attend the upcoming TICAD meeting which will take place in Yokohama, Japan in June.
βI sincerely thank the Government and leaders of this country for the assistance provided when we were establishing our embassy here. Our cooperation has been excellent; there has been reciprocal assistance between our two countries. We also appreciate the transparency and efficiency in the way this country uses aid and we look forward to further cooperation.β
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mary Baine said the outgoing Ambassador was a hands-on envoy who did a lot to promote cooperation between Rwanda and Japan:
βHe used his vast experience in investment to encourage Japanese businessmen to invest in Rwanda. He also did a lot of work to see that the one-stop-border post at Rusumo was established and also funding of irrigation schemes in the Eastern Province through JICA.β