Four years after France and Rwanda decided to bury the hatchet and restore diplomatic ties, France has warmed up to the country. The French ambassador Michel Flesch spoke to Rodrigue Rwirahira on the progress in restoring relations between the two counties.

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France and Rwanda have fully restored diplomatic ties, what would you say of the current status of relations between the two since 2009?

Past relations between the two countries have not been quite good, there have been hitches based on misunderstandings which very often were fronted by some individuals. Contrary to media reports, France has never harboured any hostility towards Rwanda or Rwandans.

France wishes to see a diplomatic win-win situation with Rwanda and other countries. There have been some differences, we exchange ideas and might fail to agree but we work together to strike a common understanding and share mutual benefits in cross-cutting sectors from the economy, political and social-cultural.

There is more room for improvement, mainly in the sector of education, health and other cultural exchanges. For example, France remains the favourable destination for students, who are attracted by the universities there. The priority is to advance programmes that will see more Rwandan youngsters benefit from science and technological trainings, of which France is willing to help.

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How would you define current economic relations between the two countries?

The trade between the two countries compared with trade with other countries is low. I have to be very honest, because in terms of export volumes and demand, France’s turnover is at 10 million euros while Rwanda’s exports to France are estimated only at 3 million euros.

Coffee and tea are the main exports from Rwanda. If we want to have more trade, the figures need to increase; I understand we all need time and we have to ensure each party plays its role respectively.

The private sector players from the two countries have increasingly shown determination in meeting, discussing and setting up a framework of operations that should deliver positive results.

Many investors from France would want to exercise their knowhow to the benefit of both Rwanda and France. I believe we can go beyond coffee and tea exports. France would like to see more agro-products coming from Rwanda.

If I may give an example. We, in France, have for long (15 years) benefited from imports on green beans with Kenya. The French like the produce, but I am not saying Rwanda should grow and export the same, maybe there are more crops that can be exported to France.

Before 2006, France was funding a number of development programmes in the country. What is their status?

When the two countries resumed relations, France development institutions decided to shift focus to economic programmes.

Agence Francaise de Developpement was to establish credit lines in different banks. So far, Bank of Kigali and the Banque Commercial du Rwanda were attached to the programmes to assist growth in the private sector.

Recently, Rwanda hosted a number of French investors, what do you make of it? Is Rwanda going to see more of them coming to invest, any estimation of business investment?

Recently we received a delegation of 10 French investors accompanied by senior officials in charge of small- and medium- enterprises on a go-and-see visit to assess possible grounds of business operations in the country; they have learnt that Rwanda was pro-business, and they were keen to come and see the reality on the ground.

They understood that the country had excellent economic growth and performance; they saw a potential market of around 10 million people.

They come from different professions and have different expertise, ranging from aeronautics and mechanics to human resource management and agro-processing industries; they interacted with Rwandans in the private sector, established a good liaison and I think it is a good entry point.

The embassy did what was within our means by linking them with their Rwandan counterparts through the Rwanda Development Board, it is up to them to decide when to come and how much to invest.

But we are very optimistic that they will reach a mutual benefiting business package, and once done, we will continue to search for more investors from other parts of France.

Do we assume then that Rwanda and France have put behind them the disputes of 2006 and will see more economical and social political exchanges?

I have to repeat this, France should be seen as a partner in development, it has never thought of being hostile to Rwanda or its people. The relations are progressively improving and I think that is why I am here as an ambassador, and the two countries are willing to progress despite the differences.