Rwandan producers have yet another opportunity to deepen their market reach and also form partnership with foreign firms, thanks to the ongoing Egypt and Middle East Expo. The trade fair that kicked off on Friday is exhibiting Made-in-Rwanda products for the first time since inception, organisers said over the weekend.

The show was hitherto exclusively attended by Egyptians and Middle East exhibitors.

Natacha Haguma, the coordinator of the expo, said: "This expo is very unique in the sense that it has been opened to Rwandan firms to showcase their products.”

Haguma added that the trade fair presents local industrialists and SMEs a "great opportunity to market their products as well as creating partnerships with other businessmen”.

She said that allowing local firms to participate in the exhibition shows the ‘thirsty’ to penetrate new markets and increase the country’s export revenues.

She said that though the number of local producers is limited this time, more would be allowed to participate in Egypt and Middle East expos going forward.

"This will help Rwandans to from foreign exhibitors and improve the standards of their products. This is also the chance for Rwandans to show other participants their ability,” she explained.

The 16-day expo, taking place at Petit Stade in Remera, started on December 15 and ends on 31. The expo is a biannual event in Kigali to promote trade and investment between the participating countries.

Presently, there are 56 exhibitors, an increase from 46 during the last expo this year. Of the 10 new exhibitors, five companies are local exhibiting Made-in-Rwanda products. Other participants are from Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, India, Dubai and Singapore, among others.

Exhibitors

Anita Uwimana, a local exhibitor from Oxalis, a skin care products company, said participation in the expo will ‘add more value’ as well as increasing the number of customers for her products.

"This is a big chance for us and we expect to get new wholesale buyers and agents for our products,” she said.

Uwimana said their products can be used for personal hygiene, as well as for cleaning smartphones.

Amir Nagi, from Egypt, believes that the expo will run successfully, adding that it creates new opportunities for participants.

Products

The expo is showcasing a wide range of Egyptian, Middle East and Rwandan products such as furniture, sanitary ware, foodstuffs, decorative chandeliers, carpets, kitchenware, household items, shoes, jewelry, and home appliances, among others.

Benefits

Haguma said the expo enables local importers to make partnerships saving them money involved in flying abroad to buy the products. She added some that investors have opened shops in Kigali as a result of the previous expos.

"We also encourage them to start factories in the country so that their products will be available all the time without waiting for expos,” the official said.