New deal to let Rwandan traders clear goods remotely from Tanzania

Rwanda and Tanzania on Saturday, July 26 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment and operationalisation of Tanzania Ports Authority’s liaison office in Kigali to boost trade between the two countries, according to officials. The office is expected to allow Rwandan traders to have their goods cleared without having to travel to Tanzania ports, mainly Dar es Salaam. ALSO READ: Relief as Tanzania ports authority moves to open liaison office in Kigali The two countries also signed another agreement on agriculture cooperation. Both deals were signed at the ministerial session of the 16th Joint Permanent Commission between Rwanda and Tanzania, on Saturday, July 26, in Kigali. Speaking at the event, foreign affairs minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said trade and investment between Rwanda and Tanzania remains strong and they are committed to expanding it. “We believe that there was still considerable untapped potential on both sides,” he said. We value our partnership with Tanzania which facilitates over 70 per cent of our maritime cargo through the Port of Dar es Salaam, he added, noting that the MoU establishing a Tanzania Ports Authority liaison office in Kigali “will streamline logistics, reduce bottle necks and enhance trade efficiency between our two countries. We are grateful for the facilitation provided by Tanzania and its critical infrastructure. The signing of an MoU on the operationalisation of Tanzania Ports Authority liaison office in Kigali, represents another step forward in growing our trade relations, he said. Tanzania is Rwanda's second largest source of imports, accounting for an average of 15 per cent of the total imports over the last three years, Nduhungirehe observed. Rice is among Rwanda's major imports from Tanzania, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry. According to the 2024 trade and industry performance data by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Rwanda imported goods value at $727 million (slightly over Rwf1 trillion), representing a 13.9 per cent drop compared to $844 million in 2023. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, said that they also agreed on investment promotion on both sides, because Rwanda is a key trading and transiting partner in Tanzania. With 70 per cent of products imported into Rwanda passing through Tanzania, he said that “Rwanda is a very important partner to Tanzania.”

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New deal to let Rwandan traders clear goods remotely from Tanzania