President Paul Kagame witnessed the signing of three agreements between Rwanda and Cambodia covering investment, tourism and air transport, marking a new step in economic cooperation between the two countries.
The agreements were signed on Friday, November 13, at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, where President Kagame and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet presided over the ceremony following bilateral discussions. Officials from both countries exchanged the signed documents.
Ahead of the visit, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the planned agreements as a means of “fostering closer economic and business ties” and creating additional opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.
The first agreement was a Memorandum of Understanding between the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), aimed at strengthening investment promotion and development cooperation.
The arrangement provides a framework for the two institutions to exchange experience, support business connections and explore opportunities for investors interested in the Rwandan and Cambodian markets.
Discussions between the institutions had already taken place in September, when Rwanda’s Ambassador to Cambodia, Bakuramutsa Nkubito Manzi, met Cambodian investment officials to explore closer cooperation.
The meeting examined opportunities for investment promotion, business partnerships and institutional collaboration, providing groundwork for the agreement signed during Kagame’s visit.
The second agreement focused on tourism cooperation, establishing a framework through which Rwanda and Cambodia can work together to promote their destinations and encourage exchanges between tourism institutions.
For Rwanda, the arrangement presents an opportunity to introduce its tourism attractions to a wider Asian market, while Cambodia could benefit from greater exposure to visitors and businesses in East Africa.
The third agreement covered air transport services, creating a basis for cooperation between the two countries’ aviation sectors.
Such agreements can support future air connections and facilitate international air transport arrangements. However, no direct flight between Kigali and Phnom Penh was announced during the signing ceremony.
The three agreements represent an expansion of bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Cambodia, which established diplomatic relations in 2005.
In November 2025, the countries signed two agreements during a visit to Kigali by Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn.
One established a mechanism for regular consultations between their foreign ministries, while the other removed visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
Those agreements strengthened diplomatic engagement, while the latest arrangements extend cooperation into sectors with potential economic and commercial benefits.
During Friday’s engagements, Kagame also held talks with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen. Their discussions addressed the countries’ experiences of national tragedy, recovery and efforts to strengthen self-reliance.
Earlier, King Norodom Sihamoni had received Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame at the Royal Palace for a formal welcoming ceremony and royal audience.
The state visit comes ahead of the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Phnom Penh, where leaders will discuss international cooperation, peace and shared development.
The agreements provide a foundation for future collaboration, with their economic impact depending on how investment agencies, tourism institutions and aviation authorities implement the commitments.
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