Kagame was speaking at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in Ankara on Thursday, where he expressed appreciation for Turkish investments, particularly highlighting the renovation of the Amaro National Stadiumâ€"an important project that showcases the strengthening partnership between the two nations.
President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame arrived in Turkey on January 22, 2025, for an official visit.
They visited different places including Anıtkabir, the resting place of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and laid a wreath in honor of the leader who held power from 1923 until his death in 1938.
Anıtkabir mausoleum complex is located in the Çankaya district of Ankara, the capital of Turkey. It was constructed between 1944 and 1953.
Both leaders also held a tête-à-tête meeting before a bilateral discussion with members of both delegations.
The heads of state also witnessed the signing of four agreements in the fields of; Media and communications, Civil aircraft accident and serious incident investigation, Radio and television and Military electronics and C4I technologies.
In his remarks, Kagame said that the signing of the agreements is an indication of this shared vision for deeper cooperation and highlighted the impact of Turkish investments in Rwanda's infrastructure development.
"We appreciate Turkey's significant investments and support. We have had the recent renovation of Amaro National Stadium as being one of the examples. There are many other projects in the pipeline, and here I cannot miss thanking the company from Turkey, SUMMA."
Kagame further emphasized the important role of Turkish companies, citing SUMA's significant impact on Rwanda's infrastructure development.
"I want to express how significant their presence has been in this development of infrastructure in our country and spreading to the region and beyond," he added.
As of January 2023, Rwanda registered Turkish investments worth over US$500 million in the fields of industry, construction and hospitality among others.
Some of the mega projects executed by Turkish firms include the construction of Kigali Convention Centre, BK Arena and the renovation of Amahoro Stadium.
Kagame underscored Rwanda's continued openness to welcoming even more Turkish businesses.
"There is certainly a lot we can do together and learn from one another," he remarked, highlighting the mutual benefits that both countries can derive from their growing economic ties.
Kagame also acknowledged Turkey's broader role in global peace and security, particularly in conflict resolution.
He praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his mediation efforts in the Somalia-Ethiopia conflict, noting, "I want to commend you for your mediation efforts in various conflicts, and notably the recent commendable efforts you put into bringing Somalia and Ethiopia together."
Kagame expressed confidence that these mediation skills could prove valuable in addressing regional challenges, especially in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The President also stressed that Rwanda's experience in conflict resolution has shaped the country's approach to global security.
"The uncertain global security environment shows us that we must tackle instability ourselves instead of outsourcing that responsibility," he said, highlighting Rwanda's proactive role in conflict resolution.
The President also praised the strength, unity, and resilience demonstrated by the Turkish people in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes of 2023, noting that Turkey's recovery efforts provided a lesson for the rest of the world.
President Erdoğan, in his remarks, described the visit as an important milestone in the bilateral relationship between Rwanda and Turkey.
The bilateral relations between Rwanda and Turkey have grown significantly since Rwanda opened its embassy in Ankara in 2013.
The following year, Turkey reciprocated by opening its embassy in Kigali.
Théophile Niyitegeka
