The two leaders met on the side lines of the ongoing Olympics in Paris, France, on Saturday.
In a brief statement, President Kagame said they discussed their shared commitment to fruitful bilateral cooperation, including strengthening partnerships in trade, sports, technology, and environmental protection.
The UK and Rwanda have been developing a strong commercial relationship in recent years, with growing interest in expanding trade volume.
The UK is a leading investor in Rwanda, particularly in the tea sector. More than 150 British companies are registered in Rwanda.
Additionally, the UK government is actively involved in supporting Rwanda's business environment through initiatives like the Rwanda Investment Climate Reform Program.
First Meeting
Saturday's meeting was the first since Starmer's Labour Party was voted into government earlier this month, ending the 14-year dominance of the Conservative Party.
Starmer's ascent to the high office was, however, marked by controversy following his decision to scrap the UK-Rwanda migration deal introduced by the Conservative Party.
The UK-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership was signed in April 2022. The deal aimed to deter unauthorized immigration, especially people arriving by small boats, by referring the asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The migration scheme was set to kick off in July after a two-year delay occasioned by court battles and opposition from a section of Members of Parliament.
Starmer argued that the policy was neither a deterrent nor value for money. He has pledged to tackle the issue 'upstream' by getting rid of people-smuggling gangs behind the movements.
In response to the termination of the deal, Rwanda reaffirmed that it was committed to addressing the global migration crisis despite the setback.
'We remain committed to finding solutions to the global migration crisis, including providing safety, dignity and opportunity to refugees and migrants who come to our country," the Government said.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/kagame-starmer-keen-to-strengthen-rwanda-uk-cooperation
