The Rwanda international annual trade fair has commenced today at Gikondo Expo grounds.

The twelve day exhibition organised by the Private Sector Federation in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Investment Promotion, Tourism and Cooperatives is aimed at enhancing trade through regional integration and adding value to products and services through appropriate technologies.

This year’s exhibition unlike the past ones is unique because it has also come at a time when Rwanda and Burundi have just joined the East African community, thus the theme; "Enhancing trade through regional integration”.

The Secretary General MINICOM, Juste Sengiyunvha said at a press conference held at Gikondo expo grounds on Tuesday, August 20 that this year’s trade fair is focusing on promoting trade and regional integration.

"I am privileged to inform you that this trade fair intends to enhance trade and regional integration which is pillar six of vision 2020.We should enhance trade through collaboration with other countries,” he said.

By press time on Tuesday, the number of foreign exhibitors was 100 while local exhibitors were about 200 indicating that there’s a 20% increase of local exhibitors compared to last years’. 

The Secretary General Rwanda Private Sector Federation and one of the organisers of the expo, Emmanuel Hategeka said that the Rwanda international trade fair always attracts companies from the region which helps local companies to market their products out side Rwanda and even acquire unique technology and products from the foreign participating exhibitors.

"As a country embarks on a steady journey to economic transformation, the expo has constantly brought to the lime light a changing face of the private sector. Our foreign visitors and exhibitors have since become our ambassadors, taking the good and new image of the country around the world,” Hategeka said.|

The annual exhibition sponsored by MTN, BCR, Banque de Kigali, Electrogaz, Bralirwa, Caisse Sociale du Rwanda, ORINFOR, Rwanda Air and MTN has attracted companies from Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya (East Africa), Ghana, Ethiopia and India.
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