A seven-member delegation from Malawi visited the country last week to learn from Rwanda's experience in public sector investment planning.

At the end of the visit, they vowed to implement development policies starting from the grass root levels as witnessed in the country.

The study tour was initiated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Malawi and organized by JICA Rwanda. The delegation was mainly interested in seeing how Rwanda promoted development through investment in rural, small and micro enterprises and projects.

It is in this regard they visited some of the projects in the southern province where they witnessed how women grouped themselves into cooperatives and worked on a particular project.

A good example was seen at Duhuze Umunozo association in Rulindo district, of which a group of 86 women weaved traditional baskets (Agaseke) for both international and local sales. According to Beatrice Mukabasabo who heads the association highlighted the need for market expansion by the government. "This will enable us to recruit more weavers," she remarked.

Meanwhile Rulindo mayor Justus Kagwanje explained that progress in projects aimed at eradicating poverty were made possible since government initiatives were implemented from the grass root level. "This enables citizens to take ownership of their activities, while encouraging more hard work in the villages," he remarked.

Cliff Chiunda, a member of the Malawian delegation, explained that the team had visited Uganda as part of the tour visit. "Kampala leadership is also empowering local leadership while promoting agriculture," this he said had successively performed well in Rwanda, a fact that shows Africa's road to development was to achieved through empowering local people economically.

He further pointed out that, though Malawians giant income came from agriculture, the country lacked better policies to manage and expand the Agri-business.

Chiunda added that his government would adopt Rwandans way of mobilizing resources and planning effectively for agriculture in the national budget.

In relation to boost agriculture in the country, JICA is scheduled to give fertilizer worth Frw 3million to farmers later in the year.

The role of the Japanese cooperation agency in enhancing development and promoting human security can be seen in activities such the recent rehabilitation of schools hit by earth quake in the south province and also reconstruction of houses for the ex combatants.

Kayo Amanda, program officer at JICA, explained that the organization was embarking on a program that would create a one stop border of which travelers had to clear their entries through one migration office instead of the current two offices. "This will help save both time and travel costs while facilitating easy movement of people to neighboring countries," Amanda said.

She added that the Japanese agency had future plans to construct roads in the region as a way to facilitate business.