Francis Gatare the Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board has revealed that trading between Rwanda and Zimbabwe had grown by 50% in the past three years.
The RDB CEO announced during day-2 (18-19 March) of the ongoing Rwanda-Zimbabwe Business Forum in the capital Kigali.
“Over the past four years, Rwanda’s imports from Zimbabwe have increased by 52%, while exports to Zimbabwe have grown by 8%,” according to figures shared during the forum.
The 3rd edition of the forum which opened on Monday marks another significant milestone under the economic diplomacy as zimbabwe under Emmerson Mnangagwa gears up to unlock opportunities in Africa.
Head of Zimbabwe delegation at the forum, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sheillah Chikomo, says the platform offers practical solutions to explore in deepening cooperation between Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
“The forum offers both countries an opportunity to forge new partnerships and attract foreign investment. The gathering will see us exploring more opportunities to delve deeper into practical actions that can be taken in various areas of cooperation including Government and private sector,” she added.
“In 2023 we achieved U$7.6billion in exports of goods and services which was 5.2% above the targeted U$7.22billion. The increase in exports between Zimbabwe and Rwanda since the begining of our coordinated efforts in 2021 also contributed to this growth”.
Zimbabwean Minister Chikomo added, “In our quest and effort to engage and re-engage, we have foregrounded transactional diplomacy, which puts economic interests at the top, and which requires that we make our country open for business. We have improved relations between Zimbabwe and other countries.”
“As we navigate a complex global landscape, it is essential to identify and capitalise on emerging trends and market dynamics,” said Dr. Vincent Biruta, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Biruta added that Rwanda and Zimbabwe, with their unique strengths and capabilities, have much to offer the world. “Leveraging our respective comparative advantages, we can create a cycle of growth and prosperity that benefits both nations.”
