KIGALI - Rwanda and Kenya have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to develop co-operatives.

The agreement was penned yesterday in Kigali by Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the Minister of Trade and Industry, and Joseph Nyaga, Kenya’s Minister of Co-operative Development and Marketing.

The MoU will see the two countries share technical expertise in various fields, to enhance the capacity of the cooperatives.

Nsanzabaganwa said that the partnership will help develop Rwandan co-operatives.

"It’s time to consolidate and develop our co-operative movement because it contributes a lot towards the economy of our country. It’s, therefore, an opportunity to work with Kenya because their co-operatives are more advanced,” she said.

Nsanzabaganwa noted that her ministry is currently restructuring the sector, establishing policies that will boost cooperatives.

It’s estimated that over 300 co-operative societies are registered in the country.

Meanwhile, the minister disclosed that the government intends to establish a co-operative college in the country, as another way of enhancing the capacity of these societies.

"What I can confirm is that 2012 is a year of the co-operative movement. We will launch the cooperative college, and fortunately, Kenya has accepted to provide experts to train our people.”

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