President Paul Kagame met UNECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete on Friday for talks on Rwanda’s economic priorities and the country’s longer-term development plans, the president’s office said.
The meeting at Village Urugwiro in Kigali focused on Rwanda’s development journey and sustainable development goals, according to a post by the Office of the President on X.
The talks came as Rwanda reported a 10% expansion in gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2026, compared with the same period last year.
The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda said GDP rose to Rwf6.345 trillion in the first three months of the year, from Rwf5.276 trillion in the first quarter of 2025.
Rwanda has also been working with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on projects aimed at increasing agricultural production and improving trade links.
In 2024, Gatete said UNECA was ready to support the Gako Beef project, which is intended to process meat for Rwanda’s domestic and export markets.
The commission also pledged to work with Rwanda on the Gabiro Agribusiness Hub, a project covering about 16,000 hectares and focused on modern agriculture.
The two sides have also discussed the proposed Akagera Navigation project, which would use waterways to facilitate the movement of goods towards Kagitumba, a major crossing point on Rwanda’s border with Uganda.
Gatete has previously served as Rwanda’s minister of finance and economic planning. He became UNECA executive secretary in 2023.
UNECA, headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was established in 1958 to promote economic and social development, regional cooperation and integration in Africa.
The commission works with African governments on economic policies and development strategies and has offices in several cities, including Kigali.
