The Ministry of Trade and Industry has called for more investment in agriculture and animal products so as to export high value products to neighbouring countries. 

The call was made by Ministry for Trade, Industry and East African Community Affairs, Francois Kanimba, during a field visit with investors in Karongi District to assess the progress on cross-border market construction activities.

He announced that the completion rate of the market was 65 per cent ahead of the target to be completed by March next year so as to facilitate cross-border trade via Lake Kivu.

"We realized that the Western Province, especially in Karongi District, people export cows, pigs, goats, poultry, ships, fish and agriculture produce to DRC. The government wants this market to help us export value added products from our local industries. It is high time people invested in value addition and export processed meat, processed skins and other manufactured products through the lake”, he said.

The Rwf1.5bn Karongi cross-border market was financed by Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) which is an Aid for Trade programme exclusively designed for Least Developed Countries that has supported 142 projects with over $200 million over the past seven years.

The market which is expected to host over 600 people, will have space for cattle, wood products, fruits and vegetables, warehouses for various manufactured products, shops, restaurants and others.

According to Espérance Bagwire, Karongi District vice mayor in charge of economic planning, they were carrying out a study on adding value to banana crops .

"We have planned to introduce varieties with high productivity for wine, juice, edible bananas. We carried out a study on establishing a banana processing plant so that we are be able to export the value added products through this cross border”, she said.

She added the market has also reserved spaces for a modern butchery, storage for meat and other manufactured products. One boat, traders say, can transport 200 pigs and 80 people and over 2,000 cross the border to DRC per week.

Karongi accommodates 331,808 people surrounding Lake Kivu rich with fish such as tilapia and sardines.

Bagwire said because of private sector role, 5,000 jobs are created every year in the area.

Eloi Laaurou , the chair of EIF board, said cross border-trade can play a role in poverty eradication and job creation.

Antti Piispanen, a counselor in the department of external economic relations at the Finland foreign affairs ministry that provides sponsorship through EIF said: "We are looking at trade that is inclusive. We want to see opportunities where women and youth, rural people are benefiting and get skills in value addition”.

It is estimated that between 70-80 per cent of cross-border traders are women for Rwanda.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw