As part of its strategy to forge further partnerships as well as facilitate increased investments in Rwanda from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), RDB (Rwanda Development Board) together with the Private Sector Federation (PSF) today hosted a high level business delegation from the Dubai Exports agency along with 18 businesses from the UAE.

Led by Muhammed Ali Alkamali, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Exports, the delegation held a business workshop and business to business (B2B) meeting with over 200 members of Rwanda’s private sector to discuss improving trade synergies and partnerships.

The delegation also wanted to explore investment opportunities in Rwanda’s different sectors of ICT, assembling and manufacturing, logistics and services among others.

Following the welcome address by the RDB Head of Exports, Dianne Sayinzoga, Muhammed Ali Alkamali said that his delegation was excited to visit Rwanda.

“Our role as a government agency (Dubai Exports) is to create a platform for businesses in the private sectors of our two countries to trade with each other. This is an opportunity for business people from both our private sectors to meet and begin initial discussions that we can build on to trade more with each other,” he noted.

Rwanda’s total exports to the UAE amounted to over US$ 280 million last year, up from US$ 237 million in 2017. Exports mainly comprised of minerals and agricultural products such as coffee.

On the other hand, imports from UAE increased to US$ 166.4 million last year up from US$ 23 million in 2017.