Rwanda- A new 'favourite friend'

Like early childhood friendships of this type, they tend not to last. The key to being a 'favourite friend'  of the World Bank, the IFC,  the IMF and developed countries that control policy in these institutions, has been a rapid rate of economic growth and adopting market friendly reforms that further enhance investment.

For thirty years Botswana was similarly viewed by the developed countries as a 'favourite friend'. Since independence Botswana pursued a prudent economic policy, provided a generally favourable and stable investment climate and experienced some of the world's highest rates of economic growth. IMF and World Bank officials would regularly berate economic policy makers in other African countries to 'be a bit more like Botswana'.