TMEA first signed an MOU with the Rwanda government in 2011 and lasted until 2017. The new MoU extends partnership to 2023.
Among the total $53 million of the MoU, $45 million has been contributed by the Belgium, UK and USA governments through their development agencies and the remaining $8 Million to be mobilised within the next two years in partnership with other development partners.
The signing ceremony was officiated by Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Amb. Claver Gatete and TMEA Chief Executive Officer, Frank Matsaert.
In the first phase, the organisation implemented interventions in partnership with several partners including the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the former Ministry of EAC Affairs, Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Revenue Authority, Rwanda Standards Board, Private Sector Federation, Profemmes Twese Hamwe among others.
In second phase, TMEA commits to work with Government and private partners to support construction of harbour facilities at Rubavu and Rusizi ports of Lake Kivu and provide support to the government in the implementation of its industrial park development strategy.
It will extend its work in supporting implementation of quality standards in key export sectors like honey, tea, coffee, meat and horticulture, automation of trade processes and work in facilitating trade nationally and beyond Rwanda’s borders.
The organisation will also deepen its support for women in trade with a focus on building capacity of women traders.
“We will contribute to creation of additional employment opportunities as investors capitalise in the transport and manufacturing sectors and export growth. Our second phase will consolidate successes achieved by our partners and innovate around lessons we have learned so far. What we will have is a leaner, more efficient programme that will deliver at least 100,000 jobs for the people of Rwanda in six years,” said TMEA’s Frank Matsaert.
While speaking at the event Minister Gatete commended TMEA’s willingness to contribute to the development of Rwanda’s priorities.
“TMEA’s new strategy augers well with government plans of raising Rwanda’s profile and increasing our export competitiveness,” he said.
In its first phase (2010-2017) TMEA partnered with the government of Rwanda in the construction of the Kagitumba One Stop Border Post, the development of the Rwanda Electronic Single Window and the Rwanda Electronic Cargo Tracking System and investment attraction towards the development of the Kigali Logistics Platform. A recent evaluation of TMEA’s first phase of programming in Rwanda indicates a 28% return on investment (ROI) and that the interventions induced $100 million worth of trade.
TMEA interventions contributed to a reduction in cost for transporting containers from Mombasa to Kigali from $6,500 in 2011 to $4,800 in 2017 saving Rwanda approximately $7 million.
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