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The Commonwealth heads of state summit in Rwanda this month is a major opportunity for renewed focus on investment in people and infrastructure as well as the post pandemic recovery.

Twice postponed because of Covid-19, the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) Meeting will take place in the capital Kigali on June 20-25.

Leading African design, architectural, and engineering-led multi-disciplinary company FBW Group has a major presence in Kigali for more than a decade and has been involved in a number of important infrastructure and development projects in the country.

They include delivering the masterplan for the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) campus expansion in Burera district.

The new development will deliver state-of-the-art facilities for students as the university builds on its work producing much-needed, high-quality health professionals.

Senior members of the FBW team will be attending the CHOGM Business Forum and Paul Semanda, FBW’s Rwanda country director, says the event will highlight the country’s growing role as a gateway to East Africa and its vision of sustainability and economic growth.

The fact that CHOGM is being hosted by the newest member of the Commonwealth, with no historic links to the organisation, also shows the role it can play in growing links and building relationships between countries in the region and beyond.

Paul says: “The themes of the business forum will range from pandemic recovery to digital innovation, food security, healthcare, impact investment, skills, future cities and green growth.

“Many of those themes concern areas where FWB Group is working to make a difference in East Africa, such as growing the skills and talent base, developing the cities of the future and making strides towards greater sustainability and the circular economy.”

He adds: “We’re looking forward to attending, talking with like-minded organisations and making important connections.”

FBW, a leading multidisciplinary design practice, has played a leading role in East Africa’s construction and development sectors for more than 25 years and has diverse, highly skilled multi-cultural teams operating in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, as well as a base in Manchester in the UK and Utrecht in the Netherlands.

The group, which has recruited some of the top talent in architecture, design, and engineering in East Africa as part of its plans for growth, offers a wide range of in-house professional building and technical services.