Rwanda will this September host the World Export Development Forum (WEDF), an annual global event organised to help small and medium enterprises access global markets. 

This will be the first time the high-profile event, which is organised by the International Trade Centre, is held in Africa in the organisaton’s 50-year history. 

The event, due September 16-17 in Kigali, was announced Tuesday during a signing agreement to co-organise the event by  ITC executive director Arancha González and Amb. Valentine Rugwabiza, the chief executive of Rwanda Development Board. 

The forum will be the highlight of the organisation’s 50th year anniversary, González said. 

The forum is expected to bring together over 400 top policy makers, business leaders, heads of trade support institutions and international organisations from around the world to discuss ways to achieve trade-led inclusive sustainable development through entrepreneurship, increased competitiveness of SMEs, employment and economic growth.

A series of business-to-business matching events will also be held on the sidelines of the forum.

Under the theme, "SMEs: Creating jobs through trade,” the forum will explore the role of vibrant SMEs in driving trade-led growth as they have proven to be the backbone of the economy in developing countries where they contribute two-thirds of employment, creating job opportunities for growing populations.

Shared vision

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Kigali, González said that Rwanda was ideal to host the forum as it has led in business reforms and promoted ideas such as developing SMEs, a vision the organisation shares.

"ITC is extremely pleased to hold WEDF in Rwanda; it is the first time a WEDF is held in Africa. 2014 marks ITC’s 50th anniversary and Rwanda is the natural choice,” she said.

"Rwanda is a leader in business reforms, cutting red tapes, creating an investment-friendly climate, economically empowering women and developing its small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), much of what ITC stands for.”

Speaking at an earlier panel discussion in the ongoing Africa Development Bank Annual Meetings, Gonzalez said the event will also go a long way to show the need of the business to business links as well as link smaller businesses to markets. 

Rugwabiza said small- and medium-scale enterprises have been the centre of Rwanda’s efforts to improve the business environment. 

"SMEs are at the front and centre of all our efforts to improve the business environment,” she said.

"These efforts are paying off in terms of inclusive growth. WEDF provides the ideal platform for SMEs to build linkages with multinational companies, opening up regional and global opportunities and unlocking their potential.”

ITC, a subsidiary of World Trade Organisation, has provided support to Rwanda’s small and medium enterprises in several areas, including in the formulation of policies on regional economic integration.