President Paul Kagame welcomed David S. Marriott, Chairman of Marriott International, and Mathieu Flamini, former Arsenal midfielder and co-founder of GFBiochemicals, to his office. GFBiochemicals is a global company specializing in environmentally friendly innovations.
Flamini, who took part in this year’s Gorilla Naming Ceremony (Kwita Izina), named a baby gorilla Rubuga. Since retiring from professional football, he has established himself as a successful entrepreneur and a strong advocate for environmental sustainability. In 2008, together with Pasquale Granata, Flamini co-founded GFBiochemicals, a company now valued at £30 billion, where he holds a 60% stake and manages a workforce of more than 1,000 employees.
Through his platform, Flamini actively promotes climate action and environmental conservation, championing renewable energy, plant-based diets, and sustainable travel practices both within the sports industry and beyond.
President Kagame also met with a delegation from Marriott International, led by David S. Marriott, who has served as Chairman of the Board since 2022. Marriott International, a global hotel chain with operations in Rwanda, continues to expand its presence across Africa.
Marriott likewise participated in the Kwita Izina ceremony, naming a baby gorilla Rugwiro. With a career in hospitality spanning more than two decades, he has held various leadership positions at Marriott International since 1999, including Chief Operations Officer for the Eastern U.S. region and Senior Vice President overseeing services for the Office of the President of the United States.
Author;: Justinmind HARERIMANA
