Close the Gap invited to KLM inaugural flight to Kigali (Rwanda)

Posted on 31/10/2010

On October 31th, KLM invited Close the Gap to participate in the inaugural flight of the company to Kigali (Rwanda). KLM being one of the most important strategic partners for Close the Gap, Prof. Blonk (chairman of Close the Gap Board) represented the organization at this important event.The KLM-delegation was headed by Mr. Erik Varwijk, Executive Vice President Commercial. He was accompanied by Mr. Pierre Descazeaux, Executive Vice President and area manager for Africa and the Middle East, Ramon Delima, commercial director for Africa and the Middle East and Vincent Coste, Air France/KLM director for Belgium and Luxemburg. Representatives of the Belgium and Dutch press were also part of the delegation.

The arrival of the first KLM-flight at the airport of Kigali was warm and wholehearted. The fire brigade of the airport of Kigali welcomed the KLM-plane with the traditional water-syringes. The delegation was then received by the Ministers of Finance and Transport. Traditional African music and dancers created a warm and special atmosphere.

The next day the delegation participated in a work program during which the Dutch Ambassador in Rwanda – Mr. Frans Makken – presented the main features of the country. Representatives of the Rwandan Development Board gave an interesting overview of the investment possibilities in the country. The workshop took place in the Thousand Hills Hotel and was followed by a visit of the Bralirwa (Heineken) bottling plant in Kigali;

For Close the Gap, the participation in the inaugural flight was of great importance for two reasons. First of all, Close the Gap decided to set up several computer projects in Kigali and the fact that KLM – as from now on – is flying to this country will allow Close the Gap to send its computers free of charge. Secondly, the inaugural flight in which representatives of Air France took part, was an ideal opportunity to raise the possibility of concluding with Air France a similar agreement as the one established with KLM for the transport of small computer shipments to destinations in developing countries.

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