(St. Louis Post Dispatch) Economic official from Rwanda visits St. Louis area, envisions trade connections

A key governmental official from the east African nation of Rwanda says he hopes his recent visit here will be a first step toward establishing trade and other connections with the St. Louis region.

“For many, this is the first contact we are making,” Francis Gatare, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, said in an interview. “It’s exploratory, a sharing of opportunities.”

Gatare, whose four-day stay ended Tuesday, met with officials with Bayer and other area businesses and organizations such as BioSTL, which aims to spur life sciences startups.