Mr.Yuan Jiajun, the Governor of Zhejiang, will attend the one-day China–Rwanda Business Forum that will take place on 7, September. Governor Yuan Jiajun, will be joined in Kigali by 50-person delegation comprised of Chinese government officials and members of the Zhejiang private sector.

The China–Rwanda Business Forum will provide an opportunity to showcase business opportunities in both Rwanda and Zhejiang, existing partnerships, as well as act as a platform for networking and business engagement between the respective private sectors.

Commenting on the visit, Clare Akamanzi, the RDB Chief Executive Officer said:

“Zhejiang Province is strongly established in several economic sectors that are aligned with Rwanda’s economic transformation aspirations. This visit presents a valuable opportunity to forge strategic partnerships while helping to encourage investment between Rwanda and China.”

The Rwanda-Zhejiang Province Cooperation

The Zhejiang Province has supported several initiatives in the TVET and digital economy sectors in Rwanda. The Jinhua Polytechnic in Zhejiang Province supported the expansion of Musanze Polytechnic (IPRC) and provided equipment to enhance practical teaching at the school. The Jinhua Polytechnic has also been providing scholarships to Rwandan students since 2014 to train in vehicle inspection and maintenance technology, communication network and equipment, hospitality Management, etc. So far, 42 Rwandans have graduated from Jinhua Polytechnic and 53 are currently enrolled.

Since 2009, the Department of Science and Technologyof Zhejiang Province through the China National Bamboo Research Center of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, supported the implementation of a Bamboo Project, which aims at providing capacity building on bamboo cultivation, processing and utilization of technology, and was organized by and sponsored by Zhejiang Province. The project has trained over 1400 students in the past 10 years who have gone on to establish bamboo processing companies, some of which are export firms.

The Rwanda – Alibaba eWTP Partnership

Under the framework of the e-WTP (electronic World Trade Platform) jointly launched by Alibaba and the Government of Rwanda last year, over 40 Rwandan entrepreneurs have received training from Alibaba Business School. Among them, 10 digital platform builders have graduated from the eFounders Fellowship, a joint program with United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and 30 ecosystem enablers, including traditional business owners as well as start-up entrepreneurs, have attended the Alibaba Netpreneur Training. Besides that, Alibaba Business School’s New Economy Workshop hosted 12 Rwandan government delegates from different ministries and departments.

At business level, Alibaba also helps local Rwandan small businesses to leverage its ecosystem and get connected to the 700+ million Chinese consumers on the platform while bypassing costly intermediaries. So far, sales volume of Rwandan coffee increased by 700% on Tmall Global, Alibaba’s cross-border B2C platform.

More cooperation will be announced between Rwanda and Alibaba under the eWTP.