Our Reporter
23 August 2008
Bujumbura, Burundi — President Paul Kagame who is currently in neighbouring Burundi on a State visit, Friday called for stronger economic ties with Burundi.
Kagame was addressing members of the Burundi Chamber of Commerce in Bujumbura on his second day in the Burundi capital.
The President is on a reciprocal three- day visit to the country following Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza 's trip to Rwanda early this year.
In his remarks, Kagame said that his visit to Burundi would be incomplete without meeting the business community due to the importance of the private sector in driving the economic growth.
He called on the private sectors of both countries to go beyond talk and act to facilitate increased trade and commerce, and to create frameworks to strengthen business partnerships between Burundi and Rwanda.
The meeting with the private sector also discussed the progress in removing obstacles to trade in the East African Community (EAC) which both countries joined in June last year.
A series of friendly sporting events was also on the agenda as both presidents share a passion for football and Kagame is an ardent player of tennis.
President Kagame watched a tennis tournament between Rwanda and Burundi and participated in a football match as the coach of Rwanda's Vision 2020 FC team against Burundi's Alleluya FC captained by President Nkurunziza. The match ended in a two-all draw.
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