Kigali, 11 December 2012
President Kagame today received credentials of four new envoys accredited to Rwanda by their respective countries. The envoys included Michel Flesch, Ambassador designate of the Republic of France to Rwanda, David Angel, Ambassador designate of Canada with residence in Nairobi, Ittiporn Boonpracong, Ambassador designate of Kingdom of Thailand to Rwanda with residence in Nairobi and Thambirajah Raveenthiran, Ambassador designate of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to Rwanda with residence in Nairobi.
Speaking to press after presenting his credentials, Michel Flesch said during his tour of duty, he would concentrate efforts on helping Rwanda achieve vision 2020 as well as promote bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and France.
Flesch has served in different capacities in French Embassies in Cameroon, Luxembourg, Sainte Lucie, and in Vietnam. He is the former Ambassador of France to Guinea Bissao.
David Angell, the newly accredited Canadian High Commissioner to Rwanda, with residence in Nairobi said:
“Canada and Rwanda have a long standing and close friendly relations. I will deepen this relationship further during my tenure. I want to focus on promoting cooperation in the areas of oil and gas explorations, infrastructure among others. For instance, Canadian companies are currently engaged in oil and gas exploration in this country.”
Angell stated that Canada would ensure that all genocide fugitives hiding there would be apprehended and prosecuted.The Canadian envoy served as Canadian High Commissioner in Nigeria between 2004 and 2007.
Ittiporn Boonpracong, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand with residence in Nairobi, Kenya said he would aim at pushing the relationship between his country and Rwanda to a more meaningful, closer and advanced level. Prior to this appointment, he was Director General of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand:
“We can benefit from one another through business exchange opportunities and we are ready to support Rwanda in terms of human resource development and technical cooperation in various fields”
Thambirajav Raveenthiran, the new Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Rwanda said he would link investors from his country with Rwanda to invest in textile, an industry that is quite developed in Sri Lanka.