The discussion on 'Is Humanity Heading in the Right Direction?' featured an array of world leaders, including President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia, Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania, Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif of Pakistan, as well as business luminary Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, and Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA.
The session was moderated by Richard Attias, Chairman of the FII Institute Executive Committee and Acting CEO of FII Institute.
Addressing the panel, moderator Attias highlighted Rwanda as a model of resilience and reform, asking President Kagame what leadership quality is most crucial to restoring trust between citizens and leaders.
President Kagame responded, emphasising that 'delivery' aligning what leaders promise with the experiences of the people, is fundamental. He stated that leaders must understand what their people expect and work within available structures to meet those expectations.
'Trust is created when the delivery we promise and the experience people have move in harmony,' he said.
Highlighting Rwanda's journey, Kagame noted, 'For my country, which is a very small country, we make sure that everybody understands that we are small geographically in size, but we are not a people of small minds or spirit… The first people to take care of ourselves are us, and partnerships can accelerate growth, but it has to start with us.'
The discussion also explored how medium and small-sized countries can redefine their paths to development. Kagame stressed that size is not a limitation; rather, mindset, practice, and accountability are key.
He reflected on Rwanda's recovery from its tragic past of the Genocide against the Tutsi, stating, 'Thirty years ago, the country was completely destroyed. So those of us who survived the tragedy had to make a choice. Do we go along with the destruction and disappear ourselves? Or do we do something and live again, and later on connect with the rest of the world?
"We learned to take care of our business, hold ourselves accountable, and make sure that we are able to measure the results we get throughout this journey we have undertaken...We don't forget to cooperate with others across the world for what they can provide. We also prepare the ground for other people from outside who can come and make investments with us, trade with us, or cooperate in all kinds of ways we can."
President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana echoed Kagame's sentiment, stressing the importance of bold thinking, investment in human capital, technology, and infrastructure as essential for competitiveness, regardless of a country's size.
Earlier in the day at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, President Kagame participated in another high-level discussion on 'the true cost of economic security,' where he called for a more inclusive global trade framework that enables equitable growth for developing nations.
President Kagame arrived in Riyadh on Monday, October 27, joining global leaders, CEOs, investors, and policymakers for FII9, which runs through October 30 under the theme 'The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth.'
The conference, organised by the FII Institute, provides a platform for debate and solutions-oriented dialogue on global investment and policy challenges, focusing on AI & Robotics, Education, Healthcare, and Sustainability.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
