Keynote address by Clare Akamanzi at the 19th Kwita Izina Ceremony
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00:00 Today, we gave a name, we gave an identity, and we gave a future to 23 new baby gorillas
00:08 who only a few decades ago were threatened by extinction.
00:14 To our distinguished namers, you have amplified the voice of nature conservation on a global
00:21 scale.
00:22 We thank you.
00:25 I know that you're all very busy people and have very busy careers, but I do hope that
00:32 like any good parent, you will find the balance and make time to come and check on your baby
00:38 gorillas regularly and help us raise them into responsible adults.
00:45 To our communities that live around the national park, who host us every year, you are our
00:50 strength.
00:52 You are the true champions of conservation.
00:55 Your commitment to protecting the mountain gorillas and of course being good neighbors
00:59 to them is the reason we celebrate success today.
01:05 Please allow me to speak in Kinyarwanda so my fellow Rwandans understand what an important
01:10 role they play here.
01:13 (Speaking in Kinyarwanda)
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01:30 (Speaking in Kinyarwanda)
01:37 (Speaking in Kinyarwanda)
01:44 (Speaking in Kinyarwanda)
01:51 (Speaking in Kinyarwanda)
01:58 (Speaking in Kinyarwanda)
02:08 (Speaking in Kinyarwanda)
02:28 (Applause)
02:32 I will now continue my remarks in English.
02:35 Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, when we invest in nature, we are also investing
02:40 in ourselves because our environment is the foundation of our economy.
02:46 This is why Rwanda invests heavily in building an eco-tourism industry that benefits both
02:53 our people and our planet.
02:56 Nature-based tourism has been the cornerstone of our recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic.
03:01 I'm happy to share that we are set to exceed our pre-pandemic tourism revenues this year,
03:08 2023.
03:09 (Applause)
03:10 I wish to thank everyone working in the tourism industry for their resilience and continued
03:16 commitment to our Visit Rwanda goals.
03:19 The results speak for themselves.
03:21 Our tourism revenues for the first half of 2023 increased by 56% compared to the same
03:26 period last year.
03:29 We are confident that investments we are making, including our newest partnership with FC Bayern
03:33 Munich, adding to the existing ones, Arsenal and PSG, will only strengthen Rwanda's tourism
03:39 sector.
03:40 Similarly, we invite you all to consider and continue investing in our hospitality ecosystem.
03:47 Opportunities abound.
03:48 Our investment climate is ranked the second in Africa.
03:52 Our country is safe and our economy is fast growing.
03:56 Friends, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to mention our plans for next year's Kwitezina.
04:03 The 20th anniversary of Kwitezina will feature a series of celebrations to mark our two-decade
04:08 journey of protecting mountain gorillas.
04:10 Please mark your calendars for next year.
04:13 (Applause)
04:15 I want to thank you, Madam First Lady, for agreeing to be the patron of the 20th Kwitezina
04:23 celebrations in 2024.
04:24 We will invite all the namers throughout the 19 years to return for this momentous occasion
04:30 next year.
04:31 Our First Lady, you are not just our guest of honour today, but you have been a long-standing
04:38 supporter of gorilla conservation.
04:41 Together with His Excellency the President, you named baby gorilla twins 19 years ago
04:45 at the very first Kwitezina.
04:48 The twins you named, Jishimo and Emano, continue to thrive and I must say they are responsible
04:53 citizens of Volcanoes National Park.
04:58 That action 19 years ago has resonated through time and inspired many other namers over the
05:03 years.
05:05 So we look forward to achieving our conservation goals.
05:08 We look forward to restoring and expanding Volcanoes National Park, introducing new species
05:12 in other national parks, upgrading protected areas and harnessing the potential of the
05:18 wildlife economy.
05:20 Let me extend our heartfelt gratitude to our conservation partners in Rwanda and beyond.
05:26 Together our collective efforts mean a future and a healthy, thriving mountain gorilla population.
05:34 I invite everyone to follow the journeys of the baby gorillas that were named today.
05:39 Let their stories be a living testament of our commitment today.
05:44 [MUSIC PLAYING]