Funding for traders, for government trade support and for infrastructure means resources at work in critical spaces in Rwanda
At the dozens of posts along Rwanda’s borders where people can cross into neighboring countries, there is a bustling and lucrative trade in goods. And, those trade networks extend alongside and beyond the crossing points, with people buying and selling where and when they can.
Recognizing that this commerce is vital for the country’s citizens and essential for economic development, Rwanda is addressing its cross border trade on the ground and at the policy level, and making progress.
“The Government is trying to encourage traders to do business in a formal way, to do it in accordance with government procedures and policies that are in place to help them do business efficiently,” said Patience Ingabire, Trade Specialist at the Rwanda Ministry of Trade and Industry.
“With the establishment of cross border markets, we will be able to provide different support to the traders when they are together in specific locations,” she added.
To facilitate this work, the country has established a dedicated body that is coordinating the effort, which spans its various partners like the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) and the World Bank, and various interventions from infrastructure and training to policy and management.
As a result, donor resources have been leveraged and targeted for optimal impact, private sector investments are on the rise and small-scale traders now have access to financing.