The National export strategy and action plan to promote exports in the country is set to kick off before the end of this year, a government official said last week.

The objective of the comprehensive strategy is to exploit opportunities for higher export revenues through export promotion and diversification.

According to Pipian Hakizabera, Head of Trade and Manufacturing at Rwanda Development Board (RDB) which is drafting the strategy, the final copy is expected to be approved end of this month.

He explained that the draft was discussed at RDB following which it was sent to the Ministry of Trade and Industry for consultations at ministerial level. The draft will eventually be sent to Cabinet for approval.

The strategy focuses on increasing the value added, i.e., in existing export sectors and new products and services. The strategy will be centered on six clusters including diary processing, fruits and vegetables processing, silk, specialized tourism, information technologies and mining services.

He highlighted some of the issues identified in the strategy that is composed of two major areas including sector based strategy and cross-cutting strategy.

Cross-cutting strategies involve infrastructure development, access to finance, human resource development, innovation and access to technology.

Others are business environment and trade facilitation. Sector-based strategies are drafted to address each sector’s challenges.

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