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“Rwanda aims to be a high-income country by 2050” President Kagame at Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris
President Paul Kagame is attending the second Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, joining world leaders, heads of international organizations, financial institutions, and industry leaders in discussions on the future of civil nuclear energy and its role in addressing global energy challenges.
During the summit, President Kagame emphasized Rwanda’s long-term development ambitions and the critical role reliable energy will play in achieving them.
“Rwanda aims to be a high-income country by 2050. That requires abundant electricity, and that is why we have decided to make nuclear energy central to our strategy,” President Kagame said, positioning nuclear energy at the core of the country’s long-term economic transformation and development plans.
He added that achieving this goal requires strong institutions, sound regulation, and a well-educated workforce, which are key foundations Rwanda is continuing to build.
President Kagame also highlighted the growing role Africa could play in the global nuclear energy sector.
“I am confident that Africa will emerge as one of the most important global markets for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the years ahead,” he said.
Addressing the importance of international cooperation, the President called for stronger partnerships to advance nuclear energy development across the continent.
“At COP28, governments called on international financing institutions to include nuclear energy in their portfolios. Now is the time to work together to make this shift a reality in Africa,” he stated.
President Kagame further reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to pursuing nuclear power as part of its development pathway.
“Rwanda is determined to do what it takes, to power our development with nuclear energy, and we look forward to you being a part of this journey,” he said.
On the sidelines of the summit, President Kagame met with President Emmanuel Macron of France. The two leaders discussed the strong and productive bilateral relations between their countries and exchanged views on the security situation in the region, including the need for continued efforts to address its root causes.
The Nuclear Energy Summit brings together global leaders and stakeholders to explore how nuclear energy can help address global energy shortages while supporting sustainable development and economic growth.
