Govt urged to do more to boost regional trade

The government should improve cross-border markets, increase investments in the export sector, as well as reduce operational and transport costs and further streamline custom procedures to benefit fully from regional trade. According to Cynthia Kamau, the Kenya Ports Authority country representative, there are a lot of business opportunities in the region, which Rwanda can tap into to ensure sustainable growth. “Rwanda should do more to encourage cross-border trade. Although the country has the best investment security in the region, addressing these challenges will make a huge economic impact,” she said. Kamau, who was speaking during the East African investment forum in Kigali recently, revealed that Rwanda is now KPA’s fourth-largest trading partner, with a total cargo turnover of about 260 million tonnes per year. Mark Priestley, the TradeMark East Africa country manager, noted that though Rwanda’s domestic reforms may not change much as far as cross-border trade is concerned, the government should encourage regional reforms. “Rwanda should continue engaging its neighbours to implement business reforms. The country also needs to commit itself to a single customs territory and regional integration; that’s where cross-border trade opportunities lie,” he noted. Pitchette Kampeta Sayinzoga, the Ministry of Finance permanent secretary, said the country needs to boost its volumes to reduce the trade deficit gap. “We should encourage people to engage in regional business, attract more private investments and increase funding to the export sector to narrow this trade gap.” Sayinzoga also stressed the need for the private sector to take advantage of the huge DR Congo market, saying it is still unexploited. “The DR Congo is still one of our key markets growing at about 20 per cent, this is a big opportunity for the local business community that should be fully exploited,” Sayinzoga said. She was speaking during the East Africa business summit in Kigali on Monday. Rwanda eased cross-border trade by introducing an electronic single-window system at the border, according to the World Bank Doing Business report for 2014. The country also reduced the number of trade documents required and enhanced joint border management procedures with Uganda and other neighbours, leading to an improvement in the trade logistics environment.

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Govt urged to do more to boost regional trade