Kigali, 14 June 2018: Rwanda and Singapore signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with the aim of enhancing business flight operations between the two countries. The agreement will enable designated airlines of the two contracting Countries to operate international commercial passenger and cargo flights between both locations.

The signing ceremony took place in the Prime Minister’s office in Kigali on 14^th June 2018. Minister of State in charge of Transport, Hon. Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye signed on behalf of the Republic of Rwanda while Hon. Koh Poh Koon, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Trade and industry represented Singapore Government. Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Edouard Ngirente and Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister, Tharman Shanmugaratnam witnessed the signing of BASA between Singapore and Rwanda.

In his statement, the Rwandan Premier emphasized how Rwanda and Singapore maintain good bilateral relations in various areas of cooperation.

“The good relations between Singapore and Rwanda are reflected in different mutual support and cooperation in various fields, either on bilateral level or at international scene. As an example, the Kigali Master Plan that we have today was designed based on experience from your country. In addition, Singapore supports Rwanda in different capacity building projects, advisory services, trade and investment cooperation, aviation and education”, he said.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies of Singapore, Rt. Hon. Tharman Shanmugaratnam,  said “We covered many areas including public service management which is something that Singapore has been developing for many years. We covered the aviation sector, financial market development and the whole issue of long-term management of land use.”

Minister of Infrastructure, Ambassador Claver Gatete said the agreements will help Rwandans to do business with Singapore and pave way for RwandAir to fly to Singapore, with the national airline of the Asian country flying to Kigali.

“One of the aspects we will cooperate with Singapore is the aviation sector. We look up to them to share their experience as they have been in the field for very many years. We also looked at changes that can be made in public service to become more productive and the social security aspect,” Gatete noted, adding that Rwanda also has a lot to learn from Singapore’s waste water management system.

The Chief Executive Officer of RwandAir’s CEO, Yvonne Makolo, mentioned that the deal presents an opportunity to foster Africa’s economic development through air transport, and enhancing cooperation with Singapore Airlines, which is experienced in the field.

“Signing this agreement is a golden opportunity in expanding our horizons in Asia. We now fly Mumbai and Guangzhou is a destination that is set for 2019. This will further deepen our cooperation with Singapore, whom we are sure to much learn from,” Makolo said.