Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Congo Brazzaville sign agreement to facilitate trade

The agreement ensures that products from Rwanda certified as meeting quality standards will no longer require retesting upon arrival in these countries and can move directly to their markets.

The same applies to products originating from Zimbabwe and Congo Brazzaville exported to Rwanda. The agreement was signed in Kigali at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation on March 6, 2026, and is based on collaboration between Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) and the equivalent institutions in Zimbabwe and Congo Brazzaville.

Key provisions include recognizing that laboratories in the three countries meet internationally trusted quality standards. Products tested in Rwanda will not need to be retested in Zimbabwe or Congo Brazzaville, speeding up trade and reducing the costs associated with repeated testing.

The signing followed a three-day meeting of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) held in Kigali, which focused on establishing 25 continental quality standards for unstitched fabrics, textile products, and related goods.

Following the agreement, 32 Rwandan factories received certificates confirming that their products meet trade-quality standards across Africa. This will prevent delays at customs and the need for additional testing in other countries.

The head of Uniworks Transporters and Logistics, which also operates a maize-processing factory in Rwanda, said the certificates will ensure their products are internationally trusted.

He stated, “When we started, it was challenging. We even began operations in Uganda before coming here, and it was not easy. Opening doors to other African markets is very important for our business. Previously, the challenge was proving the quality of our products; retesting in other countries caused delays and extra costs.”

Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Sebahizi Prudence, said that Africa has long been criticized for signing agreements without implementing them. He emphasized that such agreements now help accelerate trade among the signatory countries.

ARSO Secretary-General Dr. Hermogene Nsengimana said the agreement benefits all parties and will open opportunities for Rwanda to expand trade with Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, where Zimbabwe is a member.