The Minister for Trade and Industry, Francois Kanimba, has urged local firms to maximise the available business opportunities and export their goods and services to regional markets.

The minister was speaking at the closure of a week-long trade fair in Rwamagana on Monday.

"This is one of the richest and fastest-growing provinces with modern infrastructure and great potential for international trade,” he said.

"There were few international traders in the exhibition, an indication that the country is not doing well in international trade,” he added.

A few traders from Pakistan, Kenya and India attended the trade fair.

"We should export more in order to transform Rwanda into a vibrant, private sector-led economy. Our domestic market is too small to drive the economy. We need need to take advantage of the many opportunities that exist across the world,” Kanimba said.

He pledged government’s commitment to help businesses realise their full potential.

Kanimba said his ministry is working hard to increase the production capacity of small scale industries to boost the export sector.

"Many local businesses are growing including the food sector. What our traders need is to improve their export sales. They must link up with their counterparts across the region and the world through trade shows and other avenues,” he said.

The Eastern Province Governor, Odette Uwamariya, reiterated the need for local-based industries to think beyond boundaries.

She said the province was endowed with vast resources that could serve as raw materials for local industries.

"Local businesses should should exploit the available opportunities to develop the export base. Our province neighbours three countries, and this can help promote cross-border trade and increase of our exports,” she said.