Kigali, 04 December 2017: Rwanda has launched the ‘Green Growth Week’ campaign, at the Kigali Convention Centre. During the launch, Rwandan Government has joined forces with national and international actors in an effort to promote and share experiences on green growth and climate resilient development.

Speaking at the opening, Hon. Dr. Vincent Biruta, Minister of Environment called upon stakeholders to better understand green growth and climate resilience in order to be able to mobilise funds effectively. “We need Rwanda's Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy to be integrated into sector strategic plans and the National Strategy for Transformation.This will ensure its success,” said Minister Biruta.

He pointed out that people have to change the mindset that green businesses are less profitable compared to usual business models. “We have to create awareness on green growth to help our communities understand what green growth is all about and the role they must play for the country to achieve it,” He added.

Green Growth Week will have a series of events bringing together policy makers and practitioners from across the country and the continent to share experiences on green growth and climate resilient development.

These include the launch of a multi-million e-waste recycling facility, the second of its kind in Africa in Bugesera District, Eastern Province on Monday 4 December, 2017.

This recycling facility is expected to save the country from environmental hazards and create thousands of green jobs. With this facility, all old electronics will no longer be a problem for Rwandans.

The project is conducted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) and National Climate Change and Environment Fund (FONERWA) together with other supporting institutions.

According to MINICOM officials, the overall objective of the project is to offer an “end –of-life” solution for electronic and electrical waste, allowing a sustainable use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the country, by preventing a negative impact of electronic waste on the health or the environment once the equipment has reached its end-of life.