Lessons well learned

Apart from official ties, Silas says he was also tasked with promoting business ties between Chinese and Rwandese companies, something on which he did not enjoy much success.

"Though I took the initiative to ease the visa policies between the two nations, I realized that most of the Chinese businesses that came to Rwanda were either restaurants or those engaged in the export and import of commodities.

"This was something that was not on expected lines," he says as several other projects were discussed or proposed with Chinese businessmen in Beijing. "Most of them had evinced keen interest in these projects, but none of them actually ended up coming to Rwanda," Silas says.

"For instance, I have always wondered as to why there are no Chinese investors in our textile industry, a sector that is of great importance to the local economy.

"Some of the Chinese investors did not even bother to tell us the reasons for not proceeding with the investment."

"Before I came back to Rwanda, I had gone to Tianjin to hold talks with a bus company for an urban transportation development project," he says. "But after a visit to Rwanda, the company never came back to us."

He says that one of the reasons why most of the investors have been wary of investing in Rwanda at that time was due to the limited investment potential.

"All of that has changed after Rwanda joined the EAC and there are now several good investment options. We have a single market of five countries and a total population of 120 million people," he says, adding that this should help attract more Chinese investment.

Silas says that Chinese investment is crucial for his country's development, as Rwanda has learnt from experience that it is difficult to adopt most of the cutting-edge Western technologies in Africa. "The Chinese skills are closer and more suited to our demands."

After his diplomatic tenure, Silas became a member of the Rwandan parliament and has looked to further relations with China in his new role.

"Joint ventures with local entrepreneurs are the most sustainable way for both sides to further ties," he says.

"It's normal for African nations like Rwanda to deepen their ties with China. While most of the traditional donors are focused on financial aid, China is keen on improving technology and education in Rwanda.

"The relations between Rwanda and China could be termed as a real partnership because, in a sense, both sides are willing to share with each other," he says.

Silas says that two of his children are settled in China, one in Beijing and the other in Shenzhen. Both of them are working with organizations that are looking to attract more Chinese entrepreneurs to Africa, especially Rwanda.

"I was sad when my father chose Beijing in 1995 over better options like France or the US," says Norbert Haguma, Silas' second son.

"Beijing was a totally strange place and unlike any other capital. My distaste even went to the extent of not learning Chinese," he says.

"But later in 2000 when my mother asked me to go to France for college education, I refused after careful consideration. I realized that I would rather live in a developing country that is making progress day by day, and more importantly use that experience to do something tangible for my own country," Haguma says.

lilianxing@chinadaily.com.cn