New airline to strengthen Kigali-Juba relations: minister
October 14, 2013 (JUBA) – A senior South Sudanese official has expressed optimism that the recent launch of Rwanda’s main airline company on the Juba route will boost relations between the East African countries.
While speaking at an event organised to mark the airline entry, South Sudan’s deputy minister for transport said people from the new nation will easily trade with those in Rwanda; a country with one of the best performing economies in East Africa.
“We are happy that it [RwandAir] will bring our two people together and increase economic activities between the two countries”, John Mijok Mijak said on Saturday.
He said an open-door policy for investments exists in the country and encouraged Rwandese investors to come and undertake available investment opportunities in South Sudan.
Rwanda was among the African countries that officially recongnised South Sudan’s independence, which the latter attained on 9 July, 2011.
While speaking at the same event, Rwanda’s minister for infrastructure said no country can grow alone, hence the need for integration through connectivity.
“Countries cannot grow on their own cannot grow. They have to connect with others”, Silas Lwakabamba said.
On his part, however, RwandAir Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said they will consider customer safety their main priority, in addition to other things usually ignored by those in the aviation industry.
“We take great care of safety of our customers and set undisputable high quality service” John Mirenge said at the launch.
The airline company, he said, registered a 40% customer and revenues growth within just three years of entry into the market.
Currently operating from Kigali as its hub, RwandAir is reportedly one of the fastest growing airlines on the African continent, serving regional cities like Nairobi, Entebbe, Mombasa, Bujumbura, Dar es Salaam, and Kilimanjaro.
(ST)