Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of Nederland has commended the efforts by the Rwandan government towards increasing access to financial services, especially in rural areas.
She mentioned this during her visit at the National Bank of Rwanda on Monday 5th April 2010.
In a meeting with the Governor François Kanimba, Princess Maxima was briefed on Rwanda’s financial sector development particularly on the ongoing process for establishing a financial inclusion program in Rwanda.
Financial inclusion programs focused on:
- Expansion of banks branch network particularly in rural areas,
- Promotion of microfinance institutions and building rural cooperative structures
- Domestic savings mobilization by expanding access to formal financial services to the population eg through SACCO Umurenge,
- Modernization of Payment system e.g. mobile- banking, agent banking, etc..;
- Establishing a program of financial literacy.
Access to finance program will speed up the process of poverty alleviation strategy.
The Governor François Kanimba and Princess Maxima also exchanged views on current debate held on the participation of non financial institutions in payment system and agreed on that this development will increase access to financial services in rural areas.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima is an active global voice on the importance of inclusive finance for reducing poverty and achieving millennium development goals. Appointed in 2009 by UN Secretary General as His Special Advocate for inclusive finance for development, Princess Maxima works with civil society, the private sector and the media to raise awareness and foster action for the poor.