The Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA), on Friday, December 6, unveiled the newly constructed Rubavu Port, with the aim of modernising trade and enhancing maritime transport between Rwanda and DR Congo.

During its official inauguration, the Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore, described it as a "milestone and a testament to fostering sustainable economic growth, enhancing regional integration, and improving the livelihoods of our communities.”

"The government of Rwanda has outlined plans to construct four ports along Lake Kivu by 2029, aiming at decreasing business costs and boosting trade as part of the National Strategy for Transformation,” he said.

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According to him, the port will contribute to "reducing the cost of doing business by increasing the export capacity” using a smooth transportation of goods through Lake Kivu to other emerging towns in Western Province.

"By enhancing connectivity between Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond, this port will unlock new markets, strengthen regional value chains and attract investments. This aligns seamlessly with our national development agenda and regional commitments under the East African Community (EAC),” he added.

For David Beer, the Chief Executive Officer of TradeMark Africa, an institution that provided both technical and financial support during the port’s construction, Rubavu has already become a place of job opportunities to hundreds of local residents.

"The port is boosting the livelihoods of the communities around it. Indeed, the revamped Rubavu Port is already providing increased employment opportunities, which will continue to grow," he said.

"We are proud to have been part of this endeavour, which is strongly aligned with our mission to reduce the time and costs of trading,” he added.

Local business people and cargo truck drivers welcomed the modern facility, with some referring to it as a game changer for cross-border trade.

For example, Dieudonne Niyonsaba, a member of the Private Sector in Rubavu District, said it will make water transport more efficient.

"There used to be a couple of challenges including loading ferries and unloading them uncomfortably, but with the new port operations are efficient,” he noted.

For Jean de Dieu Izabayo, a truck owner, the port is going to address the challenge of lack of warehouses, as well as curb congestion created by cargo trucks in the town.

"Obviously, water transport is cheaper, better than inland,” he said.

Rubavu Port has now become the biggest port in Rwanda. Located in Nyamyumba Sector, Rubavu District, it has a capacity of 1.4 million passengers annually and two cargo vessels, each with a capacity of 500 DWT and a length of 60m.

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The port is among four ports set to be constructed on Lake Kivu in Western Province. The other ports are Rusizi Port currently under construction, Nkora and Karongi, both scheduled for construction in early 2025.

The $9million project was funded through a collaborative effort involving several partners including the Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) which financed 50 percent of the project through TradeMark Africa (TMA). The Kingdom of the Netherlands contributed 45 percent through Invest International, and the government of Rwanda funded the remaining 5 percent.