The deals, signed on Thursday, July 17, in New York, include a visa waiver for all passport holders and two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering health and tourism.
Rwanda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Martin Ngoga, and Antigua and Barbuda's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Walton Webson, signed the agreements on behalf of their respective countries.
The visa waiver agreement allows nationals of both countries to travel without the need for entry, transit, or visitor visas. Officials say the move will ease travel restrictions, promote cultural and economic exchange, and enhance mobility between the two nations.
The MoU on health outlines areas of collaboration including disease prevention, HIV/AIDS and malaria programmes, maternal and child health, health insurance systems, pharmaceutical cooperation, and epidemiological surveillance. The agreement is expected to support knowledge exchange and capacity building in both countries' health sectors.
In tourism, the two nations committed to working together to promote sustainable travel and eco-tourism, and to explore innovations in green energy and climate-resilient tourism strategies. The MoU also provides a framework for joint marketing and tourism development initiatives.
The agreements are part of Rwanda's broader strategy to deepen engagement with the Caribbean and advance South-South cooperation.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-antigua-and-barbuda-ink-deals-on-visa-waiver-health-tourism
