The governments of Rwanda and Jordan have signed several new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in environment, food and drugs, cultural exchanges, and tourism, aimed at strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation.
Some of the agreements were signed during the Rwanda-Jordan Trade Committee Ministerial meeting on Wednesday, October 8, while others were signed on Thursday, October 9, during the first Rwanda-Jordan Business Forum, held in Kigali.
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The MoUs were signed in the presence of a high-level delegation from Jordan, including the Minister of Trade and heads of the country’s Chambers of Commerce, alongside officials from Rwanda’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and business leaders from both countries.
"The objective of this forum, the first of its kind, is to deepen cooperation across sectors such as real estate, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and tourism,” said Jean-Guy Afrika, CEO of RDB.
He emphasised that the agreements lay the groundwork for a policy framework to facilitate trade and investment.
"Anytime you establish a legal framework between two countries to promote investment and trade, you facilitate matchmaking between enterprises and build trust. This time, we are going further,” he said.
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He also highlighted that discussions have begun on a preferential trade agreement that could liberalise trade and reduce tariffs between Rwanda and Jordan.
"We also examined the logistical requirements to facilitate the flow of trade. By combining legal frameworks with solutions for logistical challenges, we are confident this will deepen trade and investment,” Afrika said.
The agreements, he noted, also align with Rwanda’s vision of positioning the country as a logistical hub, not only for the region but for the wider African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Fathi Jaghbir, President of the Jordan Chamber of Industry, acknowledged that current trade between Jordan and Rwanda is modest but said it presents an opportunity for growth.
"Our industry, ranging from pharmaceuticals and chemicals to food processing, ventilators, and textiles, has built a reputation for quality, humanity, and innovation. We believe that this is the right time to improve industrial and trade relations between Jordan and Rwanda.”
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"Jordan’s fertiliser industry is a strategic resource. Benefiting from rich natural resources such as potash and phosphate, our fertiliser industry combines decades of experience with advanced production technologies,” he added.
"Through cooperation with Rwanda, whose agricultural sector is growing rapidly, we can create partnerships to improve soil productivity, enhance crop yields, and develop sustainable farming solutions.”
Speaking of the pharmaceutical sector, Jaghbir said, Jordan is home to some of the most reputable pharmaceutical companies in the Middle East, exporting high-quality, affordable medicine to more than 70 countries worldwide.
He noted that collaborations between Jordanian and Rwandan partners can create new opportunities for local manufacturing, technology transfer, and training of healthcare professionals.
"Such cooperation will improve access to essential medicines and strengthen healthcare infrastructure across the region,” he said.
Jeanne-Françoise Mubiligi, Chairperson of the Private Sector Federation (PSF), said the next step is to move from planning to action.
"This is just the beginning, allowing businesses to connect and work together, and some of this process has already started,” she explained.
Mubiligi noted that private sector actors on both sides have begun exploring joint opportunities. "On the Rwandan side, we are looking to bring in Jordanian private sector partners to Rwanda, as well as to the wider region, to create joint opportunities.”