Rwanda’s exports and imports handled at Mombasa port have increased by 75 per cent over the last five years.

Jean Kabanguka, a Transport Economist and Rwanda’s resident representative at the Northern Corridor Transit Transport Authority- Mombasa attributes the increase to the booming business in Rwanda.

"Rwanda’s economy has been vibrant and growing over the years, making the country a key destination for investments," he said.

He also said the signing of the Northern Corridor Transit Agreement in 1985 between the member states reduced costs on the surface transportation of goods between the respective countries and the sea.

"It had a positive effect on transport costs for imports, which have to support the cost of repositioning equipment (vehicles, wagons and containers.). Besides, Rwanda is also involved in many trade activities," he added.

Since 2000, Rwanda’s cargo has increased from 71,714 tonnes to 286,655 tonnes last year, records from the Northern Corridor Transit Transport Co-ordination Authority show.

In general, the report reveals that cargo through Mombasa destined to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya is increasing at 7 per cent rate, per annum. It rose from 10.5 million tonnes in 2002 to 14.5 million tonnes in 2006.

This was revealed at a high level regional workshop on the Northern Corridor Spatial Development Programme held in Kampala at Imperial Royale Hotel.

The workshop was called to discuss ways of transforming the Northern Corridor into an economic development corridor—to fuel trade flow and infrastructural growth in the region.

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