Rwanda's High Commissioner to India, Jacqueline Mukangira, on Saturday personally conveyed an invitation from the President of Rwanda to Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space Jitendra Singh, urging India's participation in the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA 2026), scheduled to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 18 to 21 May 2026. The invitation, confirmed by the Department of Atomic Energy, marks a significant diplomatic outreach underlining Africa's growing interest in India's nuclear and technology expertise.

India to Participate Virtually

Minister Jitendra Singh regretted his inability to travel to Rwanda in person but confirmed he would participate virtually and address a designated session during the summit. The decision reflects India's intent to maintain active engagement even where in-person attendance is not possible.

About NEISA 2026

NEISA 2026 is being organised at the Kigali Convention Centre in collaboration with leading international and regional institutions, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), the World Nuclear Association (WNA), and regional financial institutions. The summit aims to chart a roadmap for nuclear energy adoption across the African continent.

India-Rwanda Bilateral Discussions

During the meeting between High Commissioner Mukangira and Minister Singh, both sides explored avenues for strengthening India-Rwanda cooperation across science and technology, innovation, atomic energy applications, digital capacity building, and emerging technologies. Singh highlighted India's expanding global engagement in frontier sectors — including nuclear energy, space technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and digital governance — driven by what he described as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for technology-led inclusive development.

Rwanda's Interest in Indian Institutions

The Rwandan delegation expressed strong interest in India's scientific and technological capabilities and indicated keenness to deepen institutional partnerships with Indian ministries, scientific organisations, and innovation platforms. Discussions also covered collaboration in research, education, innovation ecosystems, and capacity-building initiatives. Notably, this engagement fits within India's broader push to strengthen ties with Global South nations through science and technology diplomacy — a strategy that has gained momentum over the past two years, including through India's G20 Presidency in 2023.

India's Commitment to Global South Partnerships

Minister Singh reiterated that India attaches high importance to international cooperation in emerging and transformative technologies and remains committed to strengthening partnerships with countries of the Global South in science, innovation, and sustainable development. As African nations increasingly explore nuclear energy as a clean power source, India's expertise through the Department of Atomic Energy and organisations like BARC positions it as a natural partner for the continent's energy transition. The virtual address at NEISA 2026 is expected to outline specific areas where India can support Africa's nuclear ambitions.