Bill Clinton Pledges to Help Rwandan Economy, Health Sector

The former United States President Bill Clinton, has pledged to actively participate in the transformation of the Rwandan economy through his Clinton Foundation that will market Rwandan coffee in US and Europe.

“We hope to get donors for more farmers and do the roasting and the processing operation; then profits would be greater and spread to more farmers and find more retail outlets like US, Africa and the Middle East and other high consumption countries,” Clinton said.

Clinton, who arrived in Rwanda on Friday evening as part of his African tour, told the press in Kigali on Saturday, that the country’s economy has grown remarkably since reconciliation efforts following the1994 genocide.

Through the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative (CHDI), Rwandan farmers have had their coffee branded and marketed in Europe and other parts of the world.

CHDI is an initiative that was jointly founded by Clinton and Scottish billionaire philanthropist, Tom Hunter.

Through coffee, Rwandan economy can transform and poverty in rural areas history,” Clinton said, adding that the CHDI will continue help improve health facilities and HIV/Aids affected persons in the country.

On Friday the former US president held a meeting with a group of Rwandan coffee growers and participated in testing the Rwandan coffee at Kigali Serena hotel.

Rwanda is this August 29, hosting the Cup of Excellence competition, the world’s biggest coffee quality competition.

The Cup of Excellence competition took place for the first time in Bolivia in 1999 and has since then been held annually.

Rwanda will be the first African state to host the competition.

Source African Press Agency

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