Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has received Mathieu Flamini, the former Arsenal midfielder and co-founder of GFBiochemicals, who visited Rwanda to take part in the 20th edition of the Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony.
Flamini, best known for his football career with Arsenal, AC Milan, and the French national team, has in recent years established himself as a leading voice in the global green economy.
Through GFBiochemicals, he co-founded one of the first companies in the world dedicated to producing renewable alternatives to petrochemical ingredients. These innovations are designed to replace harmful chemicals widely used in industry, offering safer, high-performing solutions that align with the urgent need to address climate change and environmental degradation.
His meeting with President Kagame at Urugwiro Village underscored Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to engage with global innovators and thought leaders whose work resonates with the country’s vision for sustainability.
Rwanda has for years stood out as a pioneer in conservation and green growth, from being the first country in the region to ban plastic bags to positioning conservation at the center of its tourism and development strategy.
Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s annual gorilla naming ceremony, provided the backdrop for Flamini’s visit. The event, now in its 20th edition, continues to attract global leaders, conservationists, and influential personalities who support the protection of mountain gorillas.
Rwanda’s approach—integrating community development, tourism, and conservation—has become a model on the continent and beyond. Flamini’s presence at this year’s ceremony added a unique dimension, bringing together the worlds of sport, business, and sustainability.
Rwanda’s Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy aims to transform the country into a climate-resilient, low-carbon economy by 2050, while GFBiochemicals’ work is advancing global innovation in the renewable materials sector.
Flamini’s journey from international footballer to entrepreneur symbolizes a broader global shift, where public figures increasingly use their influence to champion causes beyond their fields of fame. For Rwanda, hosting such figures reinforces its role as a hub for conservation and sustainable development dialogue.
His visit underlined how Rwanda’s commitment to protecting biodiversity continues to inspire partnerships across industries and borders, making the country a reference point in the fight for a greener future.
