The event held in the garden of MAGERWA Ltd, a company that provides logistics services including inland port and bonded warehousing, served as a showcase of Rwanda’s shift from a landlocked country to a “land-linked” logistics gateway, with speakers highlighting the country’s progress in trade facilitation, infrastructure development and regional integration.
AGL President and Chief Executive Officer Philippe Labonne praised Rwanda’s operating environment and the company’s journey in the country, saying the firm had grown alongside Rwanda’s development ambitions despite early challenges.
“I think there are no words to express how proud I am of my Rwanda team,” Labonne said, reflecting on the resilience of staff and the company’s expansion in the country. He also commended Rwanda’s governance framework, noting, “Rwanda is an example of how proper governance can create value.”
Labonne emphasized that AGL’s investments in logistics, technology and human capital have contributed to strengthening Rwanda’s position as a strategic hub connecting East Africa and the wider continent.
Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi also addressed the gathering, reaffirming Rwanda’s ambition to become a leading logistics and trade centre under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Tonight is yet another opportunity to listen to this story of success, to listen to this story of ‘Made in Rwanda,’” he said, highlighting the importance of partnerships in driving industrial growth.
The Minister noted that Rwanda’s logistics ambitions are closely tied to regional integration, pointing to the role of companies like AGL in strengthening supply chains and trade connectivity. He added that reducing logistics costs remains a key priority for boosting competitiveness across the continent.
“We hope to see in the near future that the cost of transportation and logistics is going to reduce from 40% to probably 20%,” Sebahizi said, calling for increased investment in technology and efficiency in the sector.
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