Turkey is expected to open an embassy in Kigali before the end of this year, Ceaser Kayizari, the Rwandan ambassador to Turkey has said.

Kayizari was speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Turkey-East Africa trade meeting, dubbed Trade Bridge, which opened on Tuesday in Gazaintep.

He said the embassy in Kigali will not only reduce the cost of doing trade between the two countries but will also facilitate Rwanda’s exports to Turkey and other parts of Europe.

The embassy, he said, will attract more Turkish businesses to invest in Rwanda.

"It is a move aimed at  strengthening the bilateral economic relationship between the two countries,” the envoy said.

He called upon Rwanda’s private sector to exploit the opportunity and build strong business partnerships with their counter Turkish counterparts. Kayizari also asked Turkish investors to scale up investments in Rwanda.

"There are vast opportunities in Rwanda that Turkish investors can exploit,” Kayizari told the investors during the opening ceremony of the meeting.

The trade bridge was organised by the Rwanda Active Businessmen Association and Tuskon, a confederation of Turkish businessmen and industrialists of Turkey.

Riza Nur Meral, the president of Tuskon, said scaling up investments in East Africa and Rwanda, in particular, is imperative for economic development between the two regions.

"Africa is special for us in terms of trade and commerce. We are aware of the growing regional market in Africa and are ready to exploit the business opportunities that come along with this huge market,” Nur Meral said.

He urged businesses to ensure quality so as to tap into the international market.

Last year, Rwanda opened its embassy in Turkey in a bid to boost its bilateral and economic ties.