Page 16 - LUA September - October 2024

COUNTRY REPORT

Landlocked to linked

RWANDA'S BID

TO CONNECT

CENTRAL AFRICA

Be it the fish from Lake Tanganyika of Burundi or minerals A cabinet meeting of the Rwandan
crossing via the Bukavu border of DRC or the fresh-cut flowers government held on August 23, 2024,
approved the second National Strategy for
from western Uganda, Rwanda has the true potential to be Transformation (NST2, 2024-2029), part of
the hub for all of them. However, the country has a long way the larger Vision 2050 and a continuation
to go in terms of cold chain, air cargo, road, customs and rail of the 7-year NST1 implemented from
2017 to 2024. The five-year strategy seeks
infrastructure, reports Libin Chacko Kurian. to transform Rwanda by achieving 14
goals including the doubling of private
wanda cannot survive if we investment from $2.2 billion in 2023 to
do not integrate into the $4.6 billion by 2029 and promoting local
regional and continental products and industrial growth.
“Reconomic market. That's “Export levels are projected to more than
why Rwanda is a member of the East African double from $3.5 billion to $7.3 billion,
Community customs union, and the African fueled by key sectors like agriculture,
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).” agro-processing, and mining focusing on
These are the words of Rwanda’s Minister value-added exports. Rwanda will become
of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi. a hub for high-quality, locally-made goods
He was speaking at the High-Level Forum Rwanda lacks cold that boost our economy and create jobs,”
on Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships 2024 the release reads.
held in Bali, Indonesia in the first week of chain infrastructure According to the Observatory of
September 2024. from the production Economic Complexity, the top exports
“And by doing so, we are given access site to even the airport. of Rwanda are gold, tin ores, coffee, malt
to a continental market of more than 1.4 extract and niobium, tantalum, vanadium
billion people and more than $3.4 trillion Truckers move fruits and zirconium ore, exported mostly to
GDP,” he added. upcountry and by the the United Arab Emirates, Democratic
Being a small country landlocked in time they reach Kigali, Republic of the Congo, Thailand, United
Africa with a population of just 13 million States, and Ethiopia. The perishable exports
people, this gives an opportunity for some will be expired. are also growing from the country which
Rwanda. As the minister puts it, “To focus BLAIR ROBERT AYESIGA requires more air cargo capacity and a
on improving the business environment for ASSOCIATION OF CROSS BORDER robust cold chain infrastructure.
big companies to come, establish and make TRADERS RWANDA One of the biggest challenges for
our country a production and distribution Rwanda and its exporters is the geography
hub for the rest of the continent.” Thus development of 8 percent over the last of the country. Rwanda is famously known
Rwanda has plans not only to survive but 10 years and is now projecting to achieve as the "Land of a Thousand Hills" due to its
also thrive and make it a logistics hub for steady growth of 9.3 percent over the landscape of hills and valleys. In the western
the entire East and Central African region. next five years. In fact, Rwanda aspires to and central parts of the country, the terrain
According to Sebahizi, Rwanda has become a middle-income country by 2035 consists of steep slopes and mountainous
been progressing with an average economic and a high-income country by 2050. regions. Rwanda is also landlocked and

14 LUA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2024