Israel seeks partnership at ‘community level’

Israeli Ambassador Ron Adam was this week on two-day working visit in districts of Eastern Province, identifying areas that need partnership, which mainly focuses on capacity building.

Ambassador Adam, who pledged advocacy, said there are “a lot” of potentials that need to be used to the advantage of the population and the country.

Following his visit in Gatsibo District on Tuesday, Sep. 22, Ambassador Adam said; “We look for projects to do together, if it is community level, with youth, it is a priority for me. Education and health and of course agriculture is huge here, but always we can do better. We can cooperate and we can do some capacity building.”

The ambassador said agriculture is a potential in the area, but it needs new technologies like irrigation.

Other areas that also need a boost include mining sector, which is “huge” in Gatsibo, the ambassador said they have good ideas about honey production too.

“We can increase the number of litres for a cow for a day, and this will bring more money and you can also export it or prepare it for the powder, which you want to establish here a factory of milk powder, it is excellent,” he explained.

“So, we have a lot of things we can do together, and we have a lot of tips to give you,” he added.

Gatsibo District Mayor Richard Gasana said tourism is still an untapped business opportunity in the district, and promoting the investment is a good idea.

Gatsibo borders on Akagera National Park and Lake Muhazi, among other potential areas.

“He was mostly impressed by the education; the way we are constructing classrooms, he also advised us to promote TVET schools, building capacity for youth, he advised us regarding a irrigation as well,” the mayor noted.

Mayor Gasana said so far there are no large irrigation schemes in the district, as they only have ‘small scale irrigation’.

“I think the visit by the ambassador, with our province having agriculture potential, it is the opportunities we can see coming from Israel in the next year or two years in Gatsibo,” the mayor pointed out.