KIGALI, June 29 — The Rwanda-Kenya Trade Week has opened in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, an event seen as reflecting the long-standing trade partnership between the two East African neighbors. Speaking at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, Doreen Ntawebasa, director general of trade and investment at Rwanda‘s Ministry of Trade and Industry, emphasized the event’s role in deepening commercial ties and celebrating decades of cooperation. “Today, as we come together to showcase capacities, exchange ideas, and explore investment opportunities, we also celebrate the trade relations between our two countries that have defined our partnership for decades,” said Ntawebasa. She noted that the event, themed “Unlocking Trade Opportunities and Building Sustainable Partnerships to Elevate Africa’s Economies,” serves as a critical platform for reinforcing the shared vision of a prosperous and integrated East African region. The trade relationship between Rwanda and Kenya, Ntawebasa said, continues to grow across various sectors, including processed foods, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, horticulture, services, and cross-border investments. Positioned as a premier international platform for trade, investment, and networking, the Rwanda-Kenya Trade Week features a dynamic blend of conferences, expos, B2B meetings, and investment forums. The event, which runs through Friday, has attracted hundreds of participants, including government officials, industry leaders, foreign envoys, and investors from across the East African region and beyond. According to organizers, the event provides a unique opportunity for market access, knowledge exchange, and policy dialogue aimed at building the next frontier of economic collaboration in the region. Recent trade figures underscore the importance of the partnership. In 2022, Rwanda’s exports to Kenya reached 11.88 million U.S. dollars, according to the United Nations Comtrade database. Meanwhile, Rwanda‘s investment landscape is also on an upward trajectory, with registered investment commitments rising by 32.4 percent in 2024 to 3.2 billion dollars, up from 2.4 billion dollars in 2023, as reported by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). The RDB reported that manufacturing attracted the highest investment at 1.35 billion dollars, followed by financial and insurance services with 811.2 million dollars, and real estate with 377.7 million dollars.
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