By Almot Maqolo.
HARARE – Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade David Musabayana yesterday launched the Zimbabwe-Rwanda Trade Conference which will be held on 24-26 March, 2020 in Kigali as relations between the two countries soars.
The Zimbabwe-Rwanda Trade and Investment conference was jointly organised by ZimTrade, AB Communications and the Rwanda Development Board. Its overall objective is to facilitate trade and investment opportunities between Zimbabwe and Rwanda as well as learning best practices from each other.
Musabayana told delegates that the impending Trade and Investment Conference is well in line with the determination by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and President Paul Kagame to deepen and widen economic cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the fields of trade and investment.
“We note with appreciation that ZimTrade and AB Communications visited Rwanda in October 2019, and the engagements there resolved to hold Trade and Investment Conferences in both countries. We are pleased to note that in the short space of time, preparations are afoot to hold the first conference in Kigali, with the next conference scheduled for Harare later this year,” he said.
“I am glad to note that this conference takes place at a time when the cordial political and economic relations between Zimbabwe and Rwanda are beginning to deepen following the decision by the two Heads of State and Government, President Mnangagwa and President Kagame, to set up Diplomatic Missions in the respective capitals. We are glad that the Embassies are now fully operational in both countries.”
On the trade front, he said, it is disheartening to note that trade between Zimbabwe and Rwanda is currently negligible with total trade peaking at merely US$156 000 in 2018 from US$6 000 in 2011. Zimbabwe exports to Rwanda increased from US$6 000 in 2011 to just US$90,000 in 2014 before tumbling to US$4 000 in 2018.
During the same period, Zimbabwe’s imports from Rwanda increased from a paltry US$1 000 in 2013 to US$18 000 in 2015 and to US$152 000 in 2018.
“The meagre trade values show that there is need to do a lot of work to promote trade between Zimbabwe and Rwanda. Immense opportunities to enhance bilateral trade are available, in light of the fact that both countries are members of the COMESA Free Trade Area and the African Continental Free Trade Area that is coming into effect in July 2020.”
Ambassador of Rwanda in Zimbabwe James Musoni said this is the first time that the two countries have taken bilateral relations to such heights.
“This conference will foster trade and investment relations between our two peoples in a win-win arrangement, further strengthen our relations and nature people to people relationships and partnerships,” he said.
ZimTrade Chief Executive Officer Allan Majuru said the country can take advantage of Rwanda air for cargo space.
Zimtrade CEO Allan Majuru
“Some aspects are demand driven so if it makes sense for a cargo plane to be flying between Rwanda and Zimbabwe weekly, then it will happen. The daily flights between Zimbabwe and Rwanda with a cost of US$380 return flight and US$1,709 per 500kg on cargo shipments will put to an end to the logistical challenges which were one of the impediments to trade in the past,” he said.
To also strengthen the relationship, ZimTrade and the Rwanda Development Board will also sign a MoU that will assist in facilitating market access for both countries and this MoU will be signed during the course of the mission.
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