Rwanda and Pakistan have signed a trade cooperation agreement aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment, promoting local production and strengthening links between businesses in the two countries. The agreement was signed on Friday, September 24, during the Rwanda-Pakistan Investment Forum, which brought together government officials, private-sector representatives, investors, manufacturers and entrepreneurs from both countries. ALSO READ: Nduhungirehe expresses Rwanda’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Pakistan It was signed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Antoine Kajangwe, and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Naeem Khan. “The agreement we signed today is about increasing cooperation and collaboration between the two countries in trade and investment, particularly trade related to producing goods locally and expanding trade in what we produce here, as well as what Pakistan produces,” the minister told reporters. The agreement also provides for stronger cooperation between private sector organisations, including the Private Sector Federation (PSF) and Pakistan’s chambers of commerce, as well as greater exchange of information on trade and investment opportunities. “It also covers how we can improve the exchange of information on trade and the opportunities available in Rwanda and Pakistan, so that we can expand trade between the two countries.” The agreement covers areas including manufacturing and technology, while Rwanda also wants to attract Pakistani investors into agro-processing, textiles and pharmaceuticals. “Pakistan brings manufacturing depth, technical expertise, and long-term experience in scale and production for its market. Together, we can move beyond simply trading goods to producing material, finding value, and creating jobs for both of our countries.” ALSO READ: Rwanda, Pakistan enter cooperation in nuclear energy regulation Juliana Muganza, the Deputy CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), said the agreement comes as both countries seek to turn longstanding diplomatic relations into stronger commercial ties. According to Muganza, between 2023 and 2025, bilateral trade reached $236.4 million, while Rwanda registered seven Pakistan investment projects worth more than $2 million. Muganza said Rwanda was positioning itself not only as a domestic market but also as a base from which Pakistani businesses could manufacture, process and distribute products to other African markets. ALSO READ: Pakistani senators, business leaders explore cooperation opportunities in Rwanda She said RDB would support investors through business registration, licences and permits, access to incentives, industrial infrastructure and links with local businesses. “Our focus is increasingly on investment outcomes. Projects becoming operational, capital being deployed, jobs being created, skills being transferred, and exports being generated,” she said. High Commissioner Khan said the two economies could benefit from their different production strengths. “Pakistan and Rwanda, our economies are based on complementarity. We are not in competition. We have complementarity. We complete each other,” Khan said. He identified Rwandan tea, coffee, avocado, beans, lentils and pulses among products that Pakistan could import in larger quantities. “The challenge is that ... we want to import this tea directly from Rwanda to Pakistan, not through other intermediaries.” “Another model is investment here in Rwanda, in sole proprietorship or in joint ventures, partnership with Rwandans,” he added. He said agricultural machinery could support mechanisation and modern farming in Rwanda, while Pakistani companies could participate in construction and establish hotels, restaurants, clinics and educational institutions. Tags:
