Rwanda, AfDB launch center to build aviation industry skills

KIGALI, RWANDA | Xinhua | The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Rwanda have launched a Center of Excellence for Aviation Skills project to meet national and international aviation training standards and industry demand.

The 26.6-million-U.S.-dollar project is in line with Rwanda’s national development strategy, Vision 2050, which underpins the need for core skills and competencies as a prerequisite for the country to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2035 and a high-income status by 2050, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said in a statement Thursday.

The five-year project will also contribute to the African Union’s 50-year continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063, which envisages an Africa with well-educated citizens and skills revolution underpinned by science, technology, and innovation, the statement said.

RDB Chief Executive Officer Francis Gatare described the project as a unique investment that will usher in a new era of opportunity and progress for Rwanda’s aviation sector.

“By establishing a cutting-edge center of excellence, we are not only building infrastructure; we are nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and charting a course towards sustainable development,” he said. “We are optimistic the center will position Rwanda as a beacon of excellence in the skies of Africa and beyond, propelling the economy to new heights.”

AfDB Country Manager for Rwanda Aissa Toure said the center is aligned with one of the bank’s priority areas, geared to improving skills and financial capabilities to foster growth. ■