These meetings underscored Rwanda’s continued commitment to strengthening its international partnerships, both within the Commonwealth and beyond.

In his interaction with Minister Dar, Nduhungirehe highlighted the importance of the new Rwandan mission in Islamabad, which marks a significant step forward in strengthening Rwanda-Pakistan relations.

The two Ministers discussed increasing cooperation in areas such as trade, security and educational exchanges. Acknowledging the positive trajectory of bilateral relations, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening these ties, particularly through direct trade channels and through the growing Pakistani community in Rwanda, which contributes to local development.

The meeting is a continuation of Rwanda’s outreach to Pakistan in recent years. In January 2024, Rwanda’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Muganga Mubarakh, led high-level discussions in Islamabad with Pakistani military and diplomatic officials.

The discussions focused on shared security challenges, military training, and defence partnerships, with broader implications for trade and development cooperation.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Rwanda, Naeem Ullah Khan, also launched projects to directly connect Rwandan producers to Pakistani markets, particularly for tea and coffee. In this vein, the Ambassador set up a training programme for Rwandan youth, aimed at strengthening their marketing skills to facilitate cross-border trade.

Minister Nduhungirehe also met with Kamina Johnson Smith, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss strengthening diplomatic and tourism ties. This meeting follows the signing in 2022 of two bilateral memoranda between Jamaica and Rwanda during President Paul Kagame’s state visit, establishing agreements on political cooperation and tourism development.

These memoranda lay the foundation for deeper engagement, with a focus on cultural and tourism exchanges, highlighting the two countries’ historical ties and shared interests within the Commonwealth framework.

These discussions at CHOGM2024 illustrate Rwanda’s commitment to nurturing dynamic partnerships with Pakistan and Jamaica, reinforcing the Commonwealth’s broader vision of unity, shared development and enduring collaboration.