The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), launched the construction of its Rusizi branch last Friday in Rusizi Town, Western Province, bordering Bukavu Town of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
BNR Vice Governor, Monique Nsanzabaganwa, laid the foundation stone at the site, assisted by the Governor of Western Province and the Vice Mayor of Rusizi District and other officials from the public and private sector.
Nsanzabaganwa said the opening of BNR branches in districts is aimed at taking services nearer to the people and other stakeholders like commercial banks. Bank of Kigali, Fina Bank and Kenya Commercial Bank are among those operating in the area.
Nsanzabaganwa however urged commercial banks to introduce services that target all the classes of the population, instead of targeting the salaried employees. She further advised the local people to form cooperatives and secure loans from banks for income generating activities.
Further she said the District Access to Finance Committees should be able to work with commercial banks to ensure that the general population gets sensitized on finance and banking.
The almost RwF 2 billion project in the centre of the town is being implemented by Real Contractors Limited, a leading local real estate and commercial construction company. The company donated RwF 300,000 towards the community-based health insurance scheme (Mutuelles) for 100 who cannot afford to pay.
Handing over the cheque to the beneficiaries, Charles Lugira, the company’s General Manager, said it was part of their corporate social responsibility and that the company gives this assistances to people in areas where it builds. “We have also contributed to government programmes like One Cow per Family Project (Girinka) and eradication of grass-thatched houses (Nyakasi),” Lugira, whose company is soon completing, building the BNR Rwamagana Branch, said.
Celestin Kabahizi, the Governor of Western Province said the BNR branch is a sign of the development of the province and appreciated Real Contractors for the donation towards health insurance scheme for the poor. He also thanked BNR its decision to build a branch in the district.
Rusizi Vice Mayor in Charge of Finance, Economic and Development, Marcel Habyarimana said the BNR branch is another addition to the developments in the district, particularly Rusizi town.
BNR works to ensure and maintain price stability, enhance and maintain a stable and competitive financial system and support Government’s general economic policies.
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