Rwanda Trade Policy

Responding to the ambitions in Rwanda Vision 2020, the vision of Rwanda’s trade policy is to build a robust economic base underpinned by expanding and diversified production of quality goods and services for trading nationally, regionally and internationally. The trade policy vision contributes directly to achieving Rwanda Vision 2020’s short, medium and long-term goals. It will also contribute to promoting Rwanda’s achievement of the Millennium Development Goals especially poverty reduction, gender empowerment and sustainable growth.
The trade policy integrates the Ministry of Trade and Industry's five (5) strategic objectives namely (i) to create a business environment conducive to growth and the protection of consumers; (ii) to increase the share of services and manufacturing in GDP, (iii) to support private sector growth and job creation with a focus on SMEs; (iv) to promote trade integration intro regional and global markets with a focus on improving Rwanda’s trade balance; and (v) build an effective human resource base and institutional capacity for delivery.
The objectives of this policy are: (i) increased productivity, competitiveness and diversified sustainable productive capacities for trading nationally, sub-regionally, regionally and internationally, (iii) enhanced participation of importers and exporters of goods and services in regional and international trade taking advantage of trade opportunities. Special attention would be paid to supporting women farmers and entrepreneurs as well as rural-based exporters, (iii) increasing investment, including foreign direct investment, into production of competitive goods and services for the export market, (iv) increased human resources skills in trade and development through training and retraining in private and public institutions, (v) strengthened science, technology and innovation policies, strategies and institutions including intellectual property laws, in support of industrial development and creative knowledge-based industries.
To enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the government plans to implement the following strategies: (i) rehabilitate existing road infrastructure and network in urban and rural and regional area, (ii) implement actions identified in the Rwanda Strategic Plan for the transformation of Agriculture 2009, (iii) elaborate analytical study on creating growth poles for sustainable rural development by linking organic agriculture, (iii) building up capacities to meeting product standards for human, animal and health protection, as well as environmental norms, (iv) assistance to resource farmers and artisans, co-operatives with target focus on women, to integrate them to global markets, (v) conduct studies on selected trade issues/sectors and the impact of liberalization under trade agreements, especially on the private sector, the poor and women as well as on the environment and climate change, (vi) information and market analysis is provided to women entrepreneurs, including in rural areas, to enhance their export capacity and their linkages with export markets, (vii) development of a legislative framework for traditional knowledge and management of genetic resources, (viii) creation and support network of trainers in international trade issues to conduct in-country training on trade policy issues and trade negotiation skills, (ix) support enterprises in finding new markets for exports of Rwanda, especially in Africa, in the EU under EPAs, in Asia and in transition economic.
In the context of governance, with regards to harmonising the institutional framework for trade policy formulation, implementation and trade negotiations, a two-track structure for effective management of the negotiations is proposed. The structure will be composed by a broader technical and consultative forum for trade policy formulation, implementation and trade negotiations. The National Trade Forum is a senior level policy making committee that will constitute the governing and coordinating mechanism under which inclusive decision-making takes place on formulating, adjusting and implementing the development-oriented trade policy.