Rwanda to become the next Singapore? 

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Singapore has ports, Rwanda has the mercy of its neighboors.

I honestly just hope any country in Africa can overcome the huge problems of their history and origins and become prosperous in some way. Whether it be Rwanda, Botswana etc.

“In all my travels, I've never seen a country's population more determined to forgive, and to build and succeed than in Rwanda.” ― Rick Warren,

Commenting here from Singapore, it's nice to hear that so many countries want to copy the Singapore model - even the UK wants to become 'Singapore on Thames'. But frankly it's difficult to imagine any other place having the combination of location, multiracial mix, culture and political leadership to achieve this. And some from the West might be surprised at what they'd need to give up - democracy for a start. Living in a benevolent but authoritarian technocracy seems to work quite well for most people here, but it wouldn't suit everyone.

Singapore has one important thing that Rwanda utterly lacks: a coastline. I can't see Rwanda becoming an economic miracle without the ability to export internationally. Rwanda cannot meaningfully access international trade without a coast.

Rawanda Forever

Rwanda is integrating into the East African Community. This community is also trying to form a Federation and has a customs union. If the member nations can enforce the rules of the customs union, then Rwanda with its central location within the union can benefit from acting as a trading hub like Singapore, except on land. Seeing as Rwanda has little natural resources, they could invest into developing a logistics industry across the East African Federation. This would attract FDI flows, jobs growth and much needed infrastructure development across the East African Federation. The other thing I noticed was that there was a deal between the UK and Rwanda to resettle refugees. I think this can be a good deal for both parties. Especially, if the UK helps raise finance to help make Rwanda a logistical trading hub for the East African Federation. This may help refugees resettled in Rwanda get jobs in this industry as well, helping them assimilate and become tax paying citizens. Then Rwanda may reduce the fee the UK has to pay them to resettle refugees there. So, if the UK develops good economic and financial ties in Rwanda, aimed at creating jobs for all people in Rwanda, there could be financial benefits for both parties. The East African Federation is a great African project. For it to be realised though, we need more convergence in economic and political systems. The reason is because some nations are closed democracies like Rwanda, whilst others like Kenya, have a multiparty democracy in place. Political convergence by promoting multiparty democracy across the East African Federation, will help this nation become a reality. Investment into an integrated infrastructure network, with Rwanda as the nexus as proposed, will help in economic convergence. The Rwandan President can continue to be re-elected as long as he does a good job in this mulit-party system. That is fair and with help from UK financiers, and infrastructure development in logistics, the current President of Rwanda could do a good enough job to become reelected once more. Rwanda could really become the Singapore of Africa in this way if it makes a commitment to slowly transition towards multiparty democracy and become more politically aligned like its neighbours.

"So long as the world wants to be misled, it will find politicians willing to oblige." Very, very, well said.

Better healthcare and a superior education system is the key to success for Rwanda.

Don’t let negative comments stop you from development. This is the right thing to do for your country and your people. People is your biggest asset. Persevere and you will succeed. Best wishes from 🇸🇬 Singapore.

"Once a leader develops reputation as an early riser, they can't sleep until noon." What an amazing quote!

I love how Rwanda is moving forward while being landlocked unlike other African countries and critics be like: Not fast enough and not good enough!

Please do a video on another successful, underrated African country: Botswana, which since its independence has low corruption, an actual democratic government and has one of Africa's highest GDP per capita. Oh, and it borders South Africa, with its very high levels of inequality and Zimbabwe, a failed state.

While their economic growth occurred largely as your described I would have mentioned one of the darker details as well. A lot of their economic prosperity is built on the exportation of gold (it accounts for nearly a quarter of their exports.) This is despite not having any gold mines in the country. Rwanda created and supported the M23 militia in northeast D.R.C which grant's it access to the regions mineral wealth.

I did not realize that things had turned around so much in Rwanda.

Currently in Rwanda, it really is unbelievably clean and safe. I can walk through Kigali at midnight as a white guy with $200 headphones and never once felt intimidated

A minor issue that i noticed is that in the Rwanda gpd graph, it is measured in millions rather than billions.

I am still amazed at how Rwanda went through such a brutal and catastrophic genocidal civil conflict and became a regional power which firmly projected its influence on neighbouring countries that can be much larger than itself.

Rwanda is landlocked. Singapore became what it is mainly because it is a maritime transport hub.

Would be Great to see the East African Federation come to fruition.

I see the next Sri Lanka. All will be well until it suddenly isn't.

I think it would have made more sense to compare Rwanda now to itself economically over the past 20-30 years instead of the rest of the continent/world to have a solid understanding of its improvements

Kagame is the case of an authoritarian regime actually working (temporarily). The problem is when this regimes no longer work decades down the line, they will not recognize it and allow changes. As Mexican, I’ve heard this story before with our most divisive president ever, Porfirio Díaz. A very similar start to Kagame so far

Being land-locked is like getting a permanent -50% consumer goods nerf 💀

Let's be honest. Regardless of Kagame his shortcomings in terms of democracy or whatever else you can say. Rwanda is in a much better spot today than it was 30 years ago. Life has improved so much, it's a night and day difference. At least today there is a future for Rwanda. Back then it was hell on earth.

The next Singapore in Africa is Mauritius. Rwanda has a very long way to go before even contemplating any top spot in East and central Africa, let alone the whole of Africa.

Problem i’m seeing for Rwanda is that some of its East African neighbors like Tanzania and Kenya are further ahead with regards to “becoming Singapore” in the economic sense and have natural advantages that see to that gap being maintained, namely a coastline and ports

Rwanda can never be the next Singapore, Singapore has geography on its side that makes it more important.

Cant believe Rwanda is copying Singapore Singapore has truly the full right to do copyright strike & lawsuit

Isn't it kind of weird/different, that nations with natural wealth in africa, are underdeveloped, and are suffering(Botswana is an exception), whereas Rwanda, Morocco,Seychelles and other nations with less natural resources are developing very fast.

I'm a rwandese and this video is well made...thanks (urakoze)..🇷🇼🇷🇼🇷🇼

Your content is exceptional. All the best to you and your team.

Too many African countries were named the next Swiss, the next Singapore, etc. Such countries were:S Africa, Nigeria, Eithiopia, Rwanda, etc. The thing is that polical stability in Africa is more fragile.

Excellent content, very objective and with different looks, not only the good. Keep up the good job.

As part of student council had pleasure of meeting rwandans, can say only good things about them. All from same village, some wealthy local business man had setup a fund where best students get funding to study in europe, pretty damn cool if you ask me. Hope all the best for the country and its people

Visited Rwanda in 2020. I've got to say the cleanliness isn't exaggerated. I labored to find a single piece of litter. I only found a single ciggerette stub at a shopping centre. That's it. The people are really friendly even though the folks that I met were a little bit introverted. But in the night, those guys would party hard...lol. Considering the country's history, it is one of the most promising countries in the world in my opinion. It seemed to me that they are very focused in mending their country both socially and politically. They have done it by fostering national cohesion and reconciliation. Corruption has always been one of, if not the most destructive force in Africa. Most of our problems stem from corruption. If Paul Kagame can remain focused on national development and stumping out corruption, then I have no doubt that Rwanda's future will be bright.

Rwanda could be the Singapore of Africa but... It's not just ports and trade that made Singapore. It's also the human factor. Rwanda has a lot of financial transparency that needs to develop along with liberalisation of it's banking system. Seychelles may be faster of becoming the Singapore of Africa🎉

Thanks a lot for your work! I would love to get more in-depth analyses of affrican affairs.

Actually there is another african country which became more similar to Singapore and has a much higher abd growing economy: Mauritius with over 10K USD per Capita, nuch less crime, great infrastructure, free health care and attracts finance, tech and consulting companies for serving Africa. They even opened a Metro Rail system. Even the GDP per capita is little bit lower than the Seychelles, the Economy is much more diverse and stable. You should check it out.

Only the best wishes to Rwanda, a country learns from its past and strives for a better tomorrow for all citizens.

I was JUST telling somebody about the miracle in Rwanda just the other day. good timing. I really hope they can succeed.

I love a classic comeback story. Best of luck to Rwanda and its great people!

Wow, this was very interesting to hear about! I only heard terrible things about Rwanda as a kid. This is amazing to hear about how they have turned it around so much. Of course the work of improving one's country is never done, it is really good to hear about how much progress has happened! While Rwanda is not Singapore, it is near a lot of natural resources and also the equator so I wonder if a space port could work there? Then the highlands are an advantage slightly since they are closer to space than the coast, same with being on the equator.

Anybody who compares Rwanda & Singapore had never been to both

Traveled to Rwanda last year and was extremely impressed...

Great content as always.

Lack of huge raw mineral wealth forces the govt to focus development of its people and helps keep corruption from big MNCs to a minimum. Thats a great long term advantage for Rwanda and hope it surpasses Singapore!

There is a striking DW documentary about Rwanda that is definitely worth a watch. Some of the laws in Rwanda are unbelievable. For example in the documentary they found children living in a storm drain. Turns out they were orphans and it’s essentially illegal to be homeless or an orphan in Rwanda. If they were found they’d be sent to rehabilitation camps which seem more like interment camps. Everything is always shades of grey and the price of prosperity is often much more costly than it appears.

Great progress n great come back 👏 👍

After watching this video I just checked google street view of Kigali. Randomly chosen streets. To my surprise each and street and clean, neat and in order. Disciplined traffic, systematic building plans. Whatever be the current status, I am pretty sure Rwanda will develop, because discipline and order are the basic requirements for development.

After all that horror, it is so heartening to see Rwanda make a fist of things. I buy their coffee often, to help them along.

"Rwanda can be a paradise again, but it will take the love of the entire world to heal my homeland. And that's as it should be, for what happened in Rwanda happened to us all - humanity was wounded by the genocide" --Immaculee Ilibagiza

I just hope the country doesn't get carved up by corruption like south Africa or Zimbabwe. They all had a promising future, it all was destroyed by neoptism and greed

Wow no shilling in the middle of the video. Thanks for that, and I hope it can continue while keeping you properly compensated.

Very educational. Most people just want to say it's good or bad, but you've been objective.

I have been in Ruanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi in 2017. Ruanda was by far the most developed country out of them and the only one where corruption wasn't everywhere. In the neighbouring states, especially in Uganda, Police officers frequently shook us down for bribes and behaved more like protection rackets with badges. (Petty stuff like: you don't have the correct driving licence (we had) give us 10 Dollars)

Once it is able to move past needing 40% of its annual budget to come from foreign aid, then maybe Rwanda can become the success story it's branding itself as.

Hey Shirvan @CapianReport an excerpt from one of your videos about Germany was played today on New York Times, The Daily podcast. Recognized your voice immediately😀

Thanks for the video

No. Singapore had the good fortune of being an island smack dab in the middle of a busy trade route. Amongst few things they really had going for them. Their achievements are still incredibly impressive given that there were other littoral states with much more resources and manpower than they did who haven't even managed to do half of what they've achieved. Rwanda is a land locked state surrounded by poor and unstable countries(worse) with weak state capacity. Singapore became an industrialized nation first Jurong industrial estate being their first major achievement. Manufacturing+Heavy+Chemical industries are the heart of Sg's rise. Rwanda has no chance, if they pull real hard maybe a middle income country is the best they'll be able to do and thats assuming they can attract a massive influx of cap.

I've done short stints in Rwanda and been all over the country while working their. It's quite clean and very western friendly as the video suggests. If anyone was curious about traveling to Africa I'd highly recommend going to Rwanda. This video directly echoes my experience. The largest question is with respect to Kagame him self, for all intents and purposes he's a benevolent dictator. Passing on the torch he'll have to have his George Washington moment if not handled with extreme care it will be the most turbulent time since the country's genocide. As a P.S: The people there do love him. He's referred to as "his excellence" and I never got the sense that it was ever once said in a mocking tone.

Makes me wanna visit Rwanda. Very nice.

Assuming that the data here are correct, and the host himself says they may be off the mark, I find a lot of this to be not only surprising, but very uplifting. Thanks.

FYI for everyone It isnt really the port and coastline that made Singapore, Singapore. If so Island like Batam, Bintan, and Place like Johor will steal the position easily. I mean, they are a part of a larger nation with easier access to those nation's resources and with practically the same access to the sea. It was because of it's policy and what position it captures. Singapore is the hub of economic activity for South East Asia, and arguably, whole of Asia. This is the place where companies put in their HQ and their distribution centres. That is what Rwanda wanted to be, to be the hub for International bussiness for Africa, atleast for East Africa. Although tbf, having a port would make it easier to raise funds by exporting, and having a coastline will help a lot in case of war.

I genuinely hope the East African Federation comes to fruition and does well. To have a peaceful joining of nations coming together and prospering is something rarely seen especially in this day and age of divisions

yooo notification squad

Amazing video!

When did China start to rise in world political and economic affairs? What years were the most productive years for the majority of Sub-Saharan Africa? There's a strong correlation there and I know it's not the best relationship in the world, but it must be a heck of a lot better than what the Europeans had to offer if mores happening in Africa now than at any point since the start of the 20th century.

If Rwanda can be a center for learning, doctors, teachers, etc. they could take lessons from Cuba as well - Cuban doctors and teachers were sources of trade, and the same could be for Rwanda, as well as improving the state of their surrounding countries.

Good luck to Rwanda, i want to visit Rwanda and see the transformation. Rwanda , viva la Rwanda

Another amazing video

With child labour still common in dangerous illegal mining, forced domestic work, organised street begging operations and commercialised sexual exploitation, how on earth is Rwanda going to develop an education labor force like Singapore or Switzerland. Even without still-rampant corruption and other major factors. Any reason why such issues are barely mentioned here...?

Yoo wats good my bro

That was frickin cool, dude. Frickin cool.

This was so good and holistic (explaining pros and cons). With the thumbnail you chose, I thought the video was going to touch on Rwanda's geopolitical goals, ex: the East African Federation which could explain how it's trying to combat being landlocked, if it could use its partners' ports with lower (or no) tariffs, easier access to infrastructure, etc. Have you done a video on that before? It would be interesting to see your take on it: chances of success, drawbacks, etc because (while this would need sources) I feel like a reason Rwanda is pushing pretty hard for the federation's development & expansion (which I don't think DRC or South Sudan are ready for but that's just me) is to combats some of the issues you described. Thanks for your time and analysis!

It was originally a German colony as part of Tanganjika, before its defeat in WW1 saw the Rwanda and Burundi handed to the Belgians

Africa has been stereotyped as being poor continent and always instable governments bad quality food, air and transport but this is changing atleast in one country this needs to be brought in limelight

LKY was a lawyer- and lawyers hate laws. Amazing story, havent read anywhere on any feed. I am an old male USA citizen, grew up watching Walter Chronkite- amazed at how much news I get from channels like this one on RU-vid of all places... for 12 bucks a month! Many thanks

0:30 that footage is from the Campuhan ridge walk in Bali

I'm Ahmadiya Muslim from India, always pray for the prosperity of Rwanda and good health of Paul Kagame

I had never thought that I would be thinking about visiting Africa in my lifetime (I am 38 now), but from the way Africa is improving, I think I will be making a visit in my lifetime. I've been to Morocco, but I don't mean North Africa.

That last line was brilliant!

Love your videos they are the high point of my day every time you upload them. Sorry for little nitpicking but your GDP chart says "million" instead of "billion". Otherwise really good video thank you!

I used to like this channel but now I feel contents are getting further and further from reality.

Rwanda's success is almost entirely down to 1 man. Quite impressive.

What a great intro to this video. Well done on drawing in the viewer on a subject that isn't covered much.

I hope they gain a soft power hold, like if Rwandan animation can become a thing in my lifetime, I will gladly watch.

When western powers don’t mess with you and you get a good leader:

I've seen a lot of people here talk about how Rwanda needs a coastline to succeed, but if the East African Federation successfully joins together (perhaps excluding the DRC and or South Sudan) or at least the core 6 or so, Rwanda could very well easily use its neighbors coastlines to Import and Export improving not just their neighborhood but their neighbors as well. Either way I wish them the best of luck

Great video.

Wow... always honoured that someone's trying to 'copy' us😆😅. Would love to visit their place someday❤

Transformation of Rwanda is truly remarkable 👍

Thank you

How did you make the map on this editing video? Im very intrested in doing something similair

povert going from 60 to 50 % while GDP jumps 10 fold doesn't seem success story to me,rather shows that all growth goes to people close to regime their nominal GDP is still under 1000 $ so even India looks rich

I do wish Rwandans the absolute best. However I am worried about how a change of guard will happen after Kagame (and Museveni in UG) and the instability it may bring. One man shows as in Sudan, Ethiopian (TPLF), Libya, DRC and many others never end peacefully.

A video on Namibia would be really informative, especially since they recently discovered their 6th oil reserve and the U.S has invested millions if not billions in the oil/gas infrastructure of Namibia

That tourist scene at 0:31 looks a lot like Campuhan Ridge Walk in Ubud, Bali😅

You keep calling Hutu’s Huthi!