He called on private investors to take advantage of the growing business opportunities linked to this increase.
Located in Kirehe District along Rwanda’s border with Tanzania, Rusumo is the country’s busiest and most strategic crossing point for imports. Over the past three years, daily truck traffic has doubled, reflecting the growing volume of goods entering Rwanda.
Rangira noted that three years ago, the border handled between 300 and 400 heavy trucks per day, but that figure has now surpassed 600. He projected that within the next three years, daily traffic could reach as many as 1,000 trucks.
He emphasized the need for the private sector to invest in supporting infrastructure, including parking facilities and other services required by truck drivers and logistics operators.
“One of the biggest opportunities Kirehe District has is its location on the borders with Tanzania and Burundi, particularly along the busy corridor from the Port of Dar es Salaam,” he said.
“We encourage private investors to capitalize on these opportunities. There is a need for expanded parking, as the number of trucks continues to grow. There is also an opportunity to build more storage facilities here, as not all trucks need to offload their cargo in Kigali.”
The First Vice Chairperson of the Private Sector Federation (PSF) in Eastern Province, Gakuba Francis, said that during their recent district visits, they observed the increase in truck traffic at Rusumo and pledged to work closely with investors to maximize these opportunities.
“We were informed that about 700 trucks enter through the border daily. When you see such numbers and are told that parking space is already insufficient, it becomes clear that expansion is necessary, and this is something we are considering,” he said.
Rwanda and Tanzania maintain strong trade relations, with Rwanda heavily relying on the Port of Dar es Salaam for imports. A significant portion of goods entering the country, particularly petroleum products, comes through Tanzania.
It is estimated that Rwanda imports at least 60 million liters of petroleum products each month, most of which are sourced via Tanzania. This is largely because Dar es Salaam hosts major fuel storage facilities supplied by countries such as Saudi Arabia.
Another advantage is the flexible payment arrangements offered by Tanzanian traders, who often allow Rwandan importers to pay after delivery, unlike in Kenya, where upfront payment is typically required.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, Rwanda imported goods worth $228.26 million from Tanzania, second only to imports from China, which totaled $328.17 million.
In addition, the Port of Dar es Salaam is closer to Rwanda than the Port of Mombasa, making it a more efficient route. Transport via Dar es Salaam takes approximately 90 hours, compared to about 180 hours from Mombasa to Kigali.
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