New Delhi/Kigali (Rwanda), July 24 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that Rwanda is the key to Africa.

Prime Minister Modi was addressing the India-Rwanda Business Forum jointly organised by Ficci and the Rwanda Development Board in Kigali.

Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, in his address at the forum said that his administration is willing to address any bottleneck such as visa issues to further strengthen trade relations between the two countries.

At present, India is amongst the top trade, investment and development partner of Rwanda.

"Over the past decade, Rwanda has been hailed as a rising star of Africa and is one of the fastest growing economies," a Ficci statement said.

Rwanda ranks second in Africa in terms of competitiveness as per the Global competitiveness report of World Economic Forum 2017-18.

Ficci President Rashesh Shah said that India considers Rwanda a serious strategic partner in Africa.

"Rwanda is a rising star in the Africa growth story which resonates well with India. Trade between India and Rwanda has crossed $100 million. We expect that to cross $1 billion in the next few years," Shah was quoted as saying in the statement.

He added: "There are plenty of opportunities in both the countries. Ficci as the apex chamber and the Indian industry would support wholeheartedly in harnessing the potential."

Shah who is also Chairman and CEO, Edelweiss Group, led an over 100-member strong Indian business delegation to Rwanda.

Apart from the business forum and B2B meetings, several MoUs were signed on this occasion between RDB and Ficci, RDB and Avaada Power and others.




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New Delhi, Nov 14: India has successfully completed the flight-tests of guided Pinaka weapon system as part of a set of validation trials.

During these tests, the Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) parameters, viz., ranging, accuracy, consistency and rate of fire for multiple target engagement in a salvo mode have been assessed by extensive testing of rockets, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

"Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the flight-tests of Guided Pinaka Weapon System as part of Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) validation trials," it said.

The flight-tests have been conducted in three phases at different field firing ranges.

"Twelve rockets from each production agency from two in-service Pinaka launchers upgraded by the launcher production agencies have been tested," the statement said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented the DRDO and the Indian Army for the successful PSQR validation trials of the system and stated that the induction of this Guided Pinaka Weapon System will further boost the artillery fire power of the Armed Forces, it said.

The precision strike variant for Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System is a totally indigenous weapon system designed and developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment in association with Research Centre Imarat, Defence Research and Development Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory and Proof & Experimental Establishment with Munitions India Limited and Economic Explosives Limited as production agencies for ammunition and Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Larsen & Toubro for Pinaka launcher and Battery Command Post.

Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, Samir V Kamat, also congratulated the teams associated with the trials and said the rocket system has "completed all pre-requisite flight trials before induction into the Indian Army".