Good afternoon to you all.

Let me begin by thanking Marc Rugenera, along with his colleagues and leaders involved in this initiative, for inviting us to this ceremony, and for the investment you have made in this building. I sincerely thank you for that.

I also welcome Radiant Insurance Company partners and friends, as well as friends of this country who were just introduced to us.

Thank you for inviting us to today’s ceremony to inaugurate this building. However, behind the building are real efforts. The fact that it was built and completed to this level is impressive, and it has just been explained to us: the commitment, the energy, the finances invested in this construction and more. This is the kind of initiative we wish to see across the country, both here in Kigali, the capital of our country, and in the provinces and districts. We want to see thriving investments and smooth economic activity across Rwanda.

Let me also remind you that it is indeed the responsibility of the country’s leadership, as well as that of various government institutions, to support such initiatives where possible, whether through legal or policy means, as long as they contribute to the development of the people through various sectors, including investments such as this one.

Marc Rugenera mentioned some ongoing challenges. That’s understandable. Now that they are known, I trust the relevant authorities will closely follow up on them and implement necessary changes without delay, and without burdening people in their work. I trust that these issues will be thoroughly examined.

It is always necessary to see what can be done, both from the side of private investors and from government. We must constantly look for ways to support such initiatives and others, through various means. There are always many options, but sometimes people simply lose focus and fail to follow up as they should. However, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that progress moves swiftly and obstacles are cleared.

I thank you again. Saying that we, as government, contributed to making this possible, supporting your relocation from your previous location to this one – yes, that is our responsibility. If we could do even more, for others and in other places, we would gladly do so.

It is a good thing that you have made good use of the support you received. The results speak for themselves. My presence here today to join you in inaugurating this building is an expression of support, but also an example for others to learn from, so they too may be inspired in similar or other efforts. It’s a good sign that you’ve reached this stage.

I haven’t yet toured the building thoroughly to inspect it. Normally, I like to critique, but I’ll reserve that for later. If I happen to see or hear of something, I’ll let you know and say: “Please take a closer look at this area.” Criticism isn’t about dissatisfaction. It’s about helping improve what’s being done. That’s its only purpose.

Generally speaking, and I’ll speak only about Rwanda, we’ve come a long way. When we reflect on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are going, you can see that we are making progress in improving how we do things. People are learning, taking note from others. But also, sometimes they need to be pushed. That too is helpful.

I believe that sometimes, when something is poorly done, yet it falls within the same category or scale as the things which were done well, the cost may end up being the same. Two similar buildings may be constructed at the same cost, but one turns out far better than the other. That’s what I mean. So, constructive criticism is about strengthening our efforts and improving quality, not just here but elsewhere, including in public service. As I said, even in government, there are things that could be done but aren’t, because people are inattentive, or they forget, or they simply don’t care, even though those things are entirely feasible.

What you lose from inaction can be substantial, and what would have been required to make it possible is often minimal and affordable. Poor planning or poor execution drives up the cost of what should have been simple. That’s the main point I was trying to make.

Still, above all, I commend you. I commend you for completing this project and for the work you do. If you can do this, and build such infrastructure, I am pleased to have joined you to highlight these achievements and the history behind them, as you shared it. I will not hesitate to support others involved in similar ventures, because such achievements speak for themselves.

Let me conclude here. I’ll be back to see what you will be doing in this building. Thank you very much, and have a great day.