Rwanda strengthens trade ties with Egypt through new logistics zone

RWANDA – Rwanda has allocated a logistics zone for Egyptian investments, marking a significant step in strengthening trade relations between the two countries.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Olivier Nduhungirehe signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 12, to boost collaboration in transport and logistics.

During their discussions, Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid emphasized Egypt’s commitment to strengthening ties with African nations, particularly those in the Nile Basin.

“The Egyptian leadership prioritizes Egyptian-African relations, aiming to solve continental issues through local initiatives,” Abu Zeid said. He also highlighted Egypt’s readiness to expand political dialogue and economic cooperation with Rwanda.

Rwanda has been actively working to improve its fresh produce exports, notably through weekly cargo flights to Europe.

The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) and IDH – the Sustainable Trade Initiative have organized these flights via RwandAir, transporting items like green beans, chillies, and habanero from Kigali to Brussels and London.

This initiative supports both exporters and smallholder farmers, enhancing resilience in Rwanda’s food systems.

Cross-border trade remains crucial for Rwanda’s agricultural sector. The country engages in significant trade with neighboring nations such as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania, and Uganda. This trade encompasses staple crops including maize, wheat, beans, and rice.

In recent years, Rwanda’s major trading partners for agricultural raw materials have included the DRC, the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Uganda, and Italy.

For overall trade, key partners are the DRC, United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom. Rwanda also imports goods from China, France, Canada, Belgium, and the United States.

Rwandan Foreign Minister Nduhungirehe congratulated Abdelatty on his new position and underscored the significance of economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.

“We look forward to further strengthening our economic ties and exploring new opportunities for collaboration,” Nduhungirehe stated.

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