The forthcoming African Union summit in Kigali is a huge opportunity for Rwanda to showcase her products and forge new export markets, Moses Turahirwa, the proprietor of Moshions, a fashion house in Kigali, has said. 

Rwanda will next week host the 27th African Union summit that will attract 3,500 delegates, including 54 Heads of State. 

Turahirwa said artisans and fashion designers are working with the Rwanda Development Board that has created an exhibition area for them to sell Made-in-Rwanda artefacts and fabrics to delegates. 

"Fashion is one way of showcasing a country’s cultural heritage and values...It also gives us an opportunity to contribute to the country’s social and economic development,” he said in an interview with The New Times. 

"Therefore, we thank the government for giving us an opportunity to exhibit our creations during the African Union summit,” Turahirwa said. 

He urged designers to bring their best creations to make an impact, and put Rwanda on the continent’s fashion industry map.

Delphine Uwamahoro, the owner of Delphine Fashion House, said they will use the platform presented by the AU summit in Kigali to create sustainable markets for locally-made fabrics. 

"Delegates will go back to their home countries with the unique creations from Rwanda. This will, not only expand our market reach, but also help push the local fashion industry to another level given the exposure it will get,” she added. 

Cedric Mizero, a designer, said he has been marketing his products on social media platforms ahead of the AU summit, arguing that most delegates browse the Internet to check what the country offers in different sectors. 

The 27th AU summit is slated for July 11-18 at the Kigali Conventional Centre.