{"id":114257,"date":"2025-10-30T13:43:52","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T13:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/kigali-explores-tourism-and-investment-with-korean-city"},"modified":"2025-10-30T14:34:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:34:37","slug":"kigali-explores-tourism-and-investment-with-korean-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/kigali-explores-tourism-and-investment-with-korean-city","title":{"rendered":"Kigali Explores Tourism and Investment with Korean City"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Kigali and Busan, a major coastal city in South Korea, are exploring new partnerships in smart city innovation, tourism promotion, and investment, according to Mayor of Kigali Samuel Dusengiyumva.<\/p>\n

Speaking on Busan e-FM radio following discussions with his counterpart in South Korea during the 2025 Busan Global City Tourism Summit, Dusengiyumva said the visit had two main objectives.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne is we responded to an invitation by the mayor of Busan to attend the first-ever Global City Tourism Summit,\u201d Dusengiyumva said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe second is to follow up on a visit by President Paul Kagame, where Busan was identified as one of the strategic partners in city-to-city cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Delegates follow City of Kigali Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva during his presentation<\/p>\n

Dusengiyumva also said that the two cities plan to collaborate, with a key goal being to increase the flow of people between Busan and Kigali for holidays, studies, and business.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also want to leverage innovation and technology because Busan has made remarkable progress in this area, from which we can learn,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

He noted that the two cities are discussing concrete steps to unlock opportunities for investment and cultural collaboration.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw a lot of huge real estate development in Busan. There is a huge market of real estate in Kigali. I call on investors to come to Kigali. We\u2019ll facilitate them and ensure they maximize their investments.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted that Kigali\u2019s approach to urban development avoids relocating residents unnecessarily: people are rehoused in the same area while high-rise structures are built, securing land for future development.<\/p>\n

Tourism and culture will also be central to the partnership. The mayors plan to promote mutual visits and strengthen ties through traditional dance, taekwondo, and culinary exchanges.<\/p>\n

They also aim to highlight Rwanda\u2019s \u2018Visit Rwanda\u2019 campaign alongside global sports partnerships with clubs such as Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Atle\u0301tico Madrid, and the LA Clippers.<\/p>\n

Mayor of Kigali Samuel Dusengiyumva poses for a photo with other officials in South Korea during the 2025 Busan Global City Tourism Summit<\/p>\n

Culinary arts, Dusengiyumva said, will be a key area of exchange. \u201cThe two cities share many commonalities, and our job as mayors is to ensure these partnerships benefit our people,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

He hailed Busan\u2019s progress in AI-driven city management and the 15-minute city concept, noting that Kigali hopes to draw lessons from the city as it advances its own smart city agenda.<\/p>\n

Busan\u2019s achievements in the Smart City Index, he said, also offer valuable guidance for Kigali as it positions itself as a global gateway for innovation and sustainable growth.<\/p>\n

In 2023, Kigali was ranked as Africa\u2019s top smart city among 30 cities assessed in the African Smart City Index.<\/p>\n

Rwanda and South Korea have strengthened cooperation through several agreements over the years. In 2024, officials from both countries inked a US$1 billion framework arrangement to provide concessional funding for projects in key sectors of the Rwandan economy, including transportation, healthcare, and education.<\/p>\n

In 2023, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations and a Framework Arrangement on the Economic Development Cooperation Fund.<\/p>\n

Earlier, in November 2020, Rwanda and South Korea signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement to enhance connectivity between the two countries and enable their private sectors to explore economic and social opportunities.<\/p>\n\r\n