Rwanda and Jordan have taken a major step toward deepening economic cooperation with the launch of the inaugural Rwanda–Jordan Business Forum held in Kigali on Friday.
The event brought together senior government officials and business leaders from both countries, including H.E. Eng. Yarub Qudah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Hon. Prudence Sebahizi, Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry; Dr. Claudine Arakwiye, Minister of Environment; and Mr. Alfred Kajangwe, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
In his opening remarks, Jean-Guy Afrika, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), welcomed the Jordanian delegation and described the forum as a milestone in the growing partnership between the two nations.
“Rwanda and Jordan may be separated by geography, but we are united by a common ethos — resilience, ambition, and faith in human capital as the cornerstone of national development,” he said.
The forum followed the first meeting of the Rwanda–Jordan Joint Trade Committee, during which the two countries signed several Memoranda of Understanding covering key sectors such as investment promotion, trade facilitation, tourism, education, and environmental cooperation.
Afrika said the agreements are “not symbolic gestures, but instruments of execution” that will create a solid framework for increased business engagement.
He highlighted Rwanda’s steady economic growth, averaging between 7 and 8 percent annually, driven by investments in infrastructure, innovation, and manufacturing.
Jordan, he added, brings valuable expertise in technology, pharmaceuticals, education, renewable energy, and healthcare — areas that offer strong potential for partnership.
Key opportunities identified include joint ventures in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, collaborations in ICT and digital innovation, education and research partnerships, and joint tourism promotion initiatives that connect Africa and the Middle East.
Afrika emphasized the importance of turning policy discussions into concrete results. “What we need now is a deliberate effort to move from policy frameworks to concrete transactions, from MoUs to measurable outcomes,” he said, reaffirming RDB’s readiness to facilitate investors through its one-stop centre for business registration, licensing, and investment support.
The Rwanda–Jordan Business Forum, held at the Marriott Hotel in Kigali, aimed to foster new partnerships, co-investments, and knowledge exchange between the two nations.
It is expected to lay the foundation for long-term economic collaboration built on shared ambition and mutual respect.
Attending dignitaries:
H.E. Eng. Yarub Qudah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Hon. Prudence Sebahizi, Minister of Trade and Industry, Republic of Rwanda
Dr. Claudine Arakwiye, Minister of Environment, Republic of Rwanda
Mr. Alfred Kajangwe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Republic of Rwanda
Mr. Jean-Guy Afrika, Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda Development Board
