Valentine Rugwabiza

Valentine Sendanyoye Rugwabiza (born 25 July 1963) is a Rwandan businesswoman and politician who has served as the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations since 2016.

Valentine Rugwabiza
in 2011 as Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organisation
Born1963 (age 57–58)
Rwanda
NationalityRwandan
CitizenshipRwandan
Alma materNational University of Zaire
OccupationEconomist, Businesswoman
Years active1989 — present
Known forBusiness, management
TitleRwanda's Permanent Representative
United Nations
Spouse(s)John Paulin Sendanyoye

Early life and education

Rugwabiza was born on 25 July 1963.[1] She has a bachelor's and a master's degree in economics from the National University of Zaire.[1][2]

Career

For eight years, Rugwabiza worked for Swiss multinational company Hoffmann-La Roche, first as the head of commercial development and marketing for Central Africa in Yaoundé and then as regional director in Ivory Coast.[3] She returned to Kigali in 1997 to run her own company, Synergy Group.[3][2]

In 2002, Rugwabiza was appointed Rwanda's ambassador to Switzerland and Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, serving for three years.[4][3]

From 2005 until 2013, Rugwabiza was Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization,[1] the first woman to hold the position.[2] She is a founding member of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation, the Rwanda Women Entrepreneurs’ Organization and the Rwandese Women Leaders’ Caucus.[5][4]

Rugwabiza was CEO of the Rwanda Development Board from 2013–2014.[6] She served as Minister for East African Community from 2014 to 2016.[1] In 2015, she was named as one of Jeune Afrique's "50 powerful women in Africa."[7]

Rugwabiza was appointed Rwanda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations by President Paul Kagame in November 2016.[1][8] She remains a member of the Cabinet of Rwanda[1] and was a member of the East African Legislative Assembly for a five year term from 2012 until June 2017.[9]

Personal life

Rugwabiza is married to John Paulin Sendanyoye.[1][4]

See also

Publications
  • Rugwabiza, Valentine (2008). "Urgency of Completing the Doha Round more Acute than Ever". In United Nations Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination (ed.). Achieving Sustainable Development and Promoting Development Cooperation: Dialogues at the Economic and Social Council. United Nations Publications. pp. 43–45. ISBN 9789211045871.
  • Rugwabiza, Valentine; González, Arancha (11 May 2016). "Economic integration is helping boost trade and investment in Africa". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  • Rugwabiza, Valentine (18 July 2016). "Africa: Amidst Brexit Woes, Africa Forges Ahead With Integration". The New Times. All Africa. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  • Rugwabiza, Valentine (17 July 2016). "Britain may have given up on the EU dream, but Africa still wants integration". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2017.

References
  1. "New Permanent Representative of Rwanda Presents Credentials". United Nations. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  2. Machado, Audace (29 May 2008). "Valentine Sendanyoye Rugwabiza". Reines d'Afrique (in French). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  3. "The Senate approves Amb. Rugwabiza Valentine as RDB CEO". Republic of Rwanda Parliament. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  4. "Valentine Sendanyoye Rugwabiza". World Trade Organization. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  5. "Hon. Valentine Rugwabiza". Yale Young African Scholars. Yale University. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  6. Banda, Honoré (1 July 2014). "Rwanda's bet: Middle-income or bust". The Africa Report. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  7. Ballong, Stéphane (12 January 2015). "Rwanda : Valentine Rugwabiza, de l'OMC à l'intégration est-africaine". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  8. "Amb. Valentine Rugwabiza has handed over office to Hon. Minister François Kanimba". Republic of Rwanda Ministry of Trade and Industry. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  9. "Amb. Rugwabiza, Valentine". East African Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
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