RWANDA OPENS CONSULATE AND RDB LIAISON OFFICE IN ISTANBUL
Diplomatic and business ties between Turkey and Rwanda are bound to benefit from the opening of a Consulate in Istanbul earlier in the week.
This was followed by the establishment of a liaison office by the Rwanda Development Board, aimed to promote investment and trade, but also tourism, ahead of the start of direct flights by Turkish Airlines between Istanbul and Kigali next year.
Notably had RwandAir preceded this development by signing an extensive cooperation agreement with Turkish Airlines a few weeks ago, which will cover schedule harmonization and codeshares extending into the respective destination networks, training and maintenance support and other areas of mutual benefit and interests. Turkish, one of the fastest growing members of the worlds leading Star Alliance only this week confirmed another order of 35 B737-800 aircraft, the same now used by RwandAir, to expand their network from Istanbul into Africa, which will from April next year include flights to Kigali.
RwandAir is expecting a second B737-800 in the second half of October, bringing their fleet to 7 aircraft at the time and permitting the introduction of more destinations and frequencies.
Meanwhile though has Rwanda again shown that business and politics can go hand in hand to the benefit of the countrys future development.
