HIDA hosts HRD Korea


HIDA Director, Mr. Charles KARAKE welcoming Korean
Head of Delegation

The Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA) in collaboration with the Human Resources and Institutional Capacity Development Agency (HIDA) hosted a team of 8 senior experts from Korea led by Dr. Jung-Woo Yi, the Director of the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea). The guests visited Rwanda from 13 – 18 April 2006 to carry out a feasibility study on the establishment of Vocational Training Centres in Rwanda tailored to the model of HRD Korea. During their stay in Rwanda , the guests met the Ministers of Public Service and Foreign Affairs. They visited institutions like the Veterans Technical Training Centre (VTTC) in Butare, CFP KAVUMU in Nyanza, the Rwanda Institute of Administration and Management (RIAM) campus at Murambi, CNFPP at Remera, ETO Kicukiro, artisans associations of ADARWA at Gisozi and KORA of Kicukiro.

Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Charles Muligande meets the Korean Head of Delegation.

Upon completion of the feasibility study undertaken by the HRD Korea Technical Team and technical meetings held with MIFOTRA and HIDA officials, it was proposed that a Centre known as “Rwanda-Korea Advanced Training Institute (RwKATI)” be established in Kigali as the first phase of the vocational training project to be financed by a soft loan from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) - Korea. This funding will cater for renovation of buildings, provision of training equipment, training of trainers, provision of experts, textbooks and curricula development. The institute will run 6 months to 1 year for regular courses as well as short term courses with the annual turn over of 1,230 graduating in 10 training domains. The total budget of the project amounts to US$17,000,000, which is US$12,000,000 from EDCF and $5,000,000 Counter part fund from the Government of Rwanda. The training fields at the Centre will include: Information & Communication Technology (ICT); Automotive Repair; Electronic Maintenance; Electric Work; Welding & Plumbing; Carpentry; General Machinery; Jewellery; Dressmaking & Design.

High level diplomatic and administrative consultations are going on as a follow up to this visit. The Signing of a cooperation agreement between the Governments of Rwanda and Korea is expected in the next few weeks.

Head of Korean team accompanied by MIFOTRA Secretary General and HIDA Director, lay a wrath on a grave of some of the victims of 1994 Rwandan genocide.