President Paul Kagame and his Estonian counterpart Alar Karis have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital governance as Rwanda and Estonia seek to deepen their partnership in the digital era.
The two leaders met in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the AI for Good Global Summit 2026, a global gathering focused on advancing the responsible use of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity.
Talks between Kagame and Karis centered on expanding bilateral cooperation in digital innovation, AI adoption and the development of efficient government services powered by technology.
The Office of the President, Village Urugwiro, said the discussions also covered opportunities for knowledge exchange, strengthening digital skills and promoting technology-based solutions that can deliver better services to citizens.
Rwanda and Estonia have in recent years strengthened collaboration around digital transformation, with the two countries sharing experiences in e-governance, institutional capacity building and the development of technology-driven public services.
Estonia is considered one of the world’s most advanced digital societies, with almost all public services accessible online, including healthcare, taxation, business registration, education services and voting.
The European country is also known for its e-Residency programme, which allows entrepreneurs from across the world to establish and manage companies registered in Estonia without physically living there, helping attract global investment and promote digital entrepreneurship.
Rwanda has also positioned digital transformation at the center of its development agenda, investing in platforms such as Irembo that enable citizens to access government services online while pursuing a broader vision of building a technology-driven economy.
The meeting between Kagame and Karis highlighted the growing importance of international partnerships as countries seek to harness emerging technologies, including AI, to improve governance, foster innovation and accelerate economic development.
