The government plans to construct a market near the revamped Rwanda-Tanzania border at Rusumo to help promote informal cross-border trade.

This was disclosed by the Minister for Trade and Industry, François Kanimba, during a one day tour of Kirehe District on Friday.

While addressing local leaders, residents and the business community, Kanimba said the market would facilitate informal traders by linking them to markets.

He noted that the aim of improving infrastructure along borders was to promote cross-border trade, especially as a way of enhancing Rwanda’s exports to neighbouring countries.

"Cross-border market facilities will help reduce the cost of doing business and to improve competitiveness of Rwandan goods in neighbouring markets, strengthen market linkages between producers, traders and markets in the informal and formal sector among others,” he said, urging the business community to invest in the project.

"The market will ease the burden and expenses incurred by traders while travelling to Kigali, to buy goods from whole salers. Traders will be buying goods at the border, since cargo trailers will be off-loading here.”

The facility, whose construction is expected to start next year, will be composed of a warehouse, a modern market, cold rooms, a three-storey building, and a waste collection facility, among others.

The market requires about Rwf1.7 billion, and is part of a bigger project that will involve building markets along the country’s busiest borders.

Businesspersons in Kirehe and neighbouring districts said they were willing to participate in the construction of the market, which.

"This is a good idea, we should all have a common understanding and do our best to realise it within the shortest period possible,” said Augustine Gasana, a local businessman.

"This market is timely since it comes at a time when we are tired of engaging in illegal businesses, which are not sustainable. Our commitment cannot be over emphasised… we expect to benefit from it in many ways,”he added.

Government has said that a feasibility study to construct six cross-border markets has been completed.

Meanwhile, Minister Kanimba visited a rice factory in the district, where he commended the activities of the farmers.

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