The call was made at the 2026 Karisimbi Service Excellence Awards held in Kigali on November 6, where 40 companies and individuals were recognised for their performance in service delivery, product quality and brand development across different sectors.
Karisimbi Events Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Mugisha said maintaining high service standards was essential to Rwanda’s ambitions of competing internationally as a destination for tourism and investment.
Now in its 10th year, the awards seek to encourage businesses and individuals to improve their services while recognising those who stand out in customer care.
Among this year’s winners was China Electric Vehicle Rwanda (CEVR), which received an award for excellence in electric vehicle services.
La Croix du Sud Hospital, commonly known as Kwa Nyirinkwaya, was recognised for excellence in healthcare, while SteelRwa Industries Ltd received an award for excellence in the manufacture of construction materials.
DHL Express Rwanda won in the logistics and delivery services category, while Prime Insurance was recognised for its health insurance services. Super One Industries Ltd was named outstanding plastic products manufacturer of the year.
Mugisha said the awards were established a decade ago with a small group of partners but a wider ambition to promote a culture of service excellence across different sectors.
He said the initiative also contributes to Rwanda’s efforts to build a reputation for professionalism, quality and a welcoming business environment for investors and visitors.
He pointed to tourism and hospitality as sectors where service quality has a direct bearing on business performance, as visitors’ experiences influence their decisions to return and recommend Rwanda to others.
“All these companies support Rwanda’s vision and its economic development strategies. When they are recognised for the quality of services they provide, it also encourages others to follow their example,” he said.
He added that excellent service should be central to the operations of businesses in tourism and hospitality rather than an additional advantage.
“Positive experiences and favourable feedback from customers are essential for the continued growth of this sector, just as negative feedback can hold it back. Time is money, and even a slight delay in any activity can have significant consequences for the performance of our economy,” he said.
Mugisha also thanked China Electric Vehicle Rwanda (CEVR) for sponsoring this year’s awards.
The recognition comes as Rwanda continues to push for improvements in service delivery across both public and private institutions.
The 13th Rwanda Governance Scorecard, released by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) in October 2026, gave service delivery quality a score of 68.48%, down from 71.73% in the previous edition.
The 2025 Citizen Report Card, meanwhile, found that 76.7% of citizens were satisfied with governance and public service delivery.
Security received the highest score at 92.1%, followed by infrastructure at 66.4%, while land, housing and environmental services scored 65.7%.
Although these assessments focus largely on public services, they point to the importance of maintaining quality standards across institutions.
In the private sector, awards such as the Karisimbi Service Excellence Awards provide an opportunity to recognise businesses that meet customer expectations and encourage others to improve their services, strengthening confidence in Rwanda as a place to visit, invest and do business.
Emmanuel Mugisha, CEO of Karisimbi Events, said the awards aim to promote a culture of quality service delivery across all sectors.
The company says it has already reached more than 10,000 farmers and aims to expand its services to five million across Africa.
Its platform offers digital agricultural advisory services, a digital agronomist, field mapping and digital farm profiles. These tools are designed to provide farmers with reliable information about their land and farming activities while giving financial institutions and insurers a clearer picture of the farmers they serve.
“Farmers feed our communities, yet many cannot easily show what they grow or how well they grow it, so financial institutions struggle to serve them,” said Victor Onyekachukwu, Co-Founder of Crop Cura.
“Rwanda’s commitment to modernising agriculture and its digital ambition make it a natural next step. We want to build here, with Rwandan partners, and learn from the farmers we serve.”
Smallholder farmers play a central role in Rwanda’s food system, but limited access to timely agricultural advice and formal records can constrain productivity and make it difficult to secure loans or insurance.
Through its platform, Crop Cura plans to create digital farm profiles and field maps, provide tailored advisory support and make verified farm information available to financial institutions and insurers to inform their lending and insurance decisions.
For farmers, the digital profiles are intended to provide advice suited to their land and a documented record of their farming activities when seeking credit or insurance. Financial institutions, cooperatives and insurers, meanwhile, can use the information, collected with farmers’ consent, to inform their assessments.
“Good data protects farmers as much as it helps lenders,” Onyekachukwu added. “We handle farmers’ information with care, with their consent, and in line with the law.”
Crop Cura Rwanda Limited is registered with the Rwanda Development Board and is seeking partnerships with cooperatives, financial institutions, insurers, agribusinesses, universities and government agencies.
A happy woman farmer after harvesting potatoes in Burera District. Photo courtesy of FAO.
Of the 10 coffee samples submitted by Rwanda, six received awards, including three Platinum Awards for samples scoring 90 per cent and above, and three Gold Awards for those scoring between 80 and 89 per cent.
The awards were presented during the ASEAN International Coffee Summit 2026 in Singapore, where coffee producers from different parts of the world showcased their products and connected with potential buyers and industry stakeholders.
Rwanda’s performance reflects continued efforts to improve coffee quality across the value chain, from production and harvesting to processing, traceability and export readiness.
According to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), investments in quality improvement, better processing practices, farmer capacity development and stronger quality assurance systems are helping strengthen the competitiveness of Rwandan coffee and create opportunities for greater value recognition.
NAEB Chief Executive Officer Claude Bizimana said the international recognition reflects the commitment of Rwanda’s coffee stakeholders to producing coffee that can compete in demanding specialty markets.
“Recognition at an international platform such as the ASEAN Coffee Excellence Awards demonstrates the quality and potential of Rwanda coffee. It reflects the dedication of our farmers, cooperatives, processors and exporters, and reinforces our commitment to continuously improving quality, strengthening traceability and positioning Rwanda as a competitive specialty coffee origin,” Claude said.
For coffee farmers and cooperatives, the recognition provides motivation to maintain quality standards, expand production and explore opportunities in international markets.
Aimable Nshimiye, Manager of Abateraninkunga ba Sholi Cooperative in Muhanga District, whose coffee received a Platinum Award, said the achievement would encourage the cooperative to continue improving quality while expanding its activities and market reach.
“This recognition gives us renewed motivation to continue producing high-quality coffee and strengthen our efforts to expand the cooperative’s activities. It also creates opportunities to increase our international market presence and visibility, ultimately benefiting our farmers through improved opportunities and the development of our cooperative,” Aimable remarked.
Beyond the awards, the recognition offers an opportunity to increase the visibility of Rwandan coffee among international buyers, traders, roasters and other industry players, particularly in Asian markets.
Rwanda’s participation in the competition also coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between NAEB and the Singapore Coffee Association. The agreement provides a framework for closer cooperation between the coffee industries of the two countries and aims to promote Rwandan coffee in Singapore and the wider ASEAN market.
The partnership is expected to support market diversification, strengthen commercial connections and create additional opportunities for Rwandan coffee exporters.
The recognition comes as Rwanda pursues ambitious targets under its Coffee Sector Development Strategy for 2024–2029, which aims to increase annual coffee export revenues to $192 million by 2029.
According to NAEB, Rwanda generated $139.3 million from exporting 23,000 tonnes of coffee during the 2025/26 fiscal year, representing a 20 per cent increase in revenue and a 9.5 per cent rise in export volume compared with the slightly over $116 million earned from approximately 21,000 tonnes in 2024/25.
Rwanda secured six awards at the 2026 ASEAN Coffee Excellence Awards (ACEA), strengthening its growing reputation as a producer of high-quality specialty coffee on the international market.
The latest figures represent a continued acceleration in consumer prices, with the annual urban inflation rate rising from 7.1% in October 2025 to 19.5% a year later. The urban Consumer Price Index (CPI) serves as Rwanda’s headline inflation measure for monetary policy purposes.
On a monthly basis, urban consumer prices increased by 3.3% in October, compared with 2.7% in September, reflecting mounting pressure on household expenditure.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded the biggest increase among major consumption categories, rising by 28.9% year-on-year and 7.8% compared with September.
Vegetables were the main contributor to food price increases, with their prices climbing by 56.4% over the year and 16.5% in October alone. The category accounts for 9% of the urban consumer basket.
The pressure was even greater in rural areas, where annual inflation reached 31.3% in October, up from 22% in September. Rural food prices increased by 43.5% year-on-year, while vegetable prices surged by 65.7%.
At the national level, annual inflation rose to 26.5% in October, compared with 20% in September. Consumer prices across the country increased by 6.5% month-on-month.
Beyond food, transport prices in urban areas increased by 22.4% year-on-year, while restaurants and hotels recorded a 20.6% increase. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose by 14.2%.
NISR’s analysis also showed that prices of locally produced goods increased by 22.8% annually, compared with 9.5% for imported goods. Fresh products recorded an annual increase of 39.9%, while energy prices rose by 36.3%.
Meanwhile, underlying inflation, which excludes fresh food and energy to provide an indication of broader price movements, increased by 11.5% year-on-year and 0.8% month-on-month.
The latest figures come amid efforts by the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) to contain inflation through tighter monetary policy. In August, the central bank raised its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 8.75%, the third consecutive increase in 2026.
The move followed earlier increases of 50 basis points in February and 100 basis points in May. The central bank said the adjustments were intended to anchor inflation expectations and bring price growth back within its target range of 2% to 8%.
The NBR projected inflation to average 13.1% in 2026 before declining to 7.9% in 2027, with a return to its target range expected in the second half of 2027.
The average annual urban inflation rate over the 12 months ending October 2026 stood at 12.5%, while the corresponding average underlying inflation rate was 10.7%.
NISR calculates the Consumer Price Index using a basket of approximately 1,622 products, collecting more than 29,482 prices monthly in urban areas and 10,744 in rural areas.
Vegetables were the main contributor to food price increases, with their prices climbing by 56.4% over the year and 16.5% in October alone.
The opportunities include an order for 70 kilogrammes of honey from a Kenyan customer secured by one of the participants, highlighting the potential of regional trade fairs to connect small businesses with new markets.
The women took part in the exhibition through ITC’s Amplifying Digital Opportunities for Cross-Border Trade (ADO-CBT) programme, which supports small businesses engaged in cross-border trade.
They showcased a range of products, including dairy products, vegetables, fruits, honey, clothing and coffee.
Grace Ingabire, a honey producer from Kayonza District, said she had initially hesitated to participate, believing the exhibition was mainly intended for large, established companies.
“At first, I was hesitant to participate. I almost decided not to come because I thought exhibitions like this were meant for large companies that had been in business for a long time,” she said.
“However, participating turned out to be one of the most beneficial experiences for my business. I secured a customer from Kenya who ordered 70 kilogrammes of honey, and I also gained new ideas on how to add value to my products.”
For Annet Muhorakeye, who sells coffee and provides coffee preparation training at Elite Cafe Training Centre, the trade fair offered an opportunity to attract customers while learning more about product certification requirements.
She said meeting an official from the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) helped clarify the process of obtaining the institution’s S-Mark certification, which she had previously considered difficult to secure.
“Before attending the trade fair, I thought obtaining the RSB S-Mark certification would be difficult because I conduct coffee preparation training and processing activities at the same location. However, I met an RSB official who explained the requirements to me, giving me the confidence to start the application process,” she remarked.
The exhibition also generated business for her training centre, with three people already paying for coffee preparation courses.
“Other women also expressed interest in bringing their relatives and friends for the training. This has opened up opportunities for me to expand my business through the networks I have established,” she added.
ITC targets online markets for women entrepreneurs
Beyond helping the women participate in physical trade fairs, ITC plans to support them in marketing their products online to reach customers beyond their existing markets.
Christine Nyairo, ITC’s digital trade national coordinator, said connecting small businesses to markets requires more than providing them with opportunities to exhibit their products.
“It means creating pathways that connect them with customers, other businesses and partners, allowing them to build relationships and access markets they could not previously reach,” she said.
Nyairo said the trade fair had enabled the women to expand their business networks, showcase their products and explore opportunities in the wider East African market.
She added that ITC seeks to strengthen their capacity to grow their businesses, compete in regional markets and increase the benefits they derive from their commercial activities.
Launched in October 2024, the ADO-CBT project is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by ITC in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The project aims to equip 150,000 traders with digital skills, help 25,000 traders access financial services, train 100 people in digital technology and support 50 cooperatives in adopting digital solutions in their operations.
Vestine Umutoni runs a clothing and accessories business.Carine Umuganwa trades in vegetables and chillies.Joyce Tumukunde sells dairy products. Lucie Mukeshimana exports avocados. Claudine Mukanyandwi sells honey.
Vestine Mukankiko makes solid and liquid soaps. Dorcas Mukabutera makes peanut-based products, including peanut butter and ground peanuts. ITC officials tour the traders’ exhibition stands at the trade fair.Annet Kayitesi sells dairy products.
Grace Ingabire is a beekeeper and honey producer. Annet Muhorakeye processes and sells coffee.
Held on November 7, the forum was hosted by the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province under the theme “Economic and Trade Prosperity, Cultural Mutual Learning, Win-Win Partnership, and People-to-People Bonds”.
This year’s forum focused on economic and trade cooperation as its main thrust, highlighting the principle of letting the market play the leading role and enabling major platforms to support and deliver big cooperation initiatives.
For the first time, the main venue was set in Yiwu, showcasing open platforms such as the Yiwu International Trade Market, the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Centre, and the Chinagoods digital platform, as well as institutional innovations including market procurement trade, cross-border e-commerce, and overseas warehouse development.
Strengthening investment cooperation is an important pathway for China and Africa to deepen industrial and supply chain integration, jointly tackle challenges, and achieve common development.
During the forum, 49 China-Africa cooperation projects were signed, including the Kinshasa Yiwu Market project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the 105MW photovoltaic project in Tati, Botswana, the China-Africa Cross-border Logistics Supply Chain Ecosystem Co-building project, and African mineral import projects, with a total value of 40.96 billion yuan. The projects cover trade, overseas investment, engineering contracting, and foreign cooperation, among other areas.
Side events supporting economic and trade cooperation were equally rich. A series of economic and trade exchange activities held concurrently further promoted industrial and supply chain coordination, supported Africa’s green development and the global expansion of Zhejiang’s competitive industries, and helped achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
These included the China-Africa Industrial Cooperation and Sustainable Development Exchange Conference, the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Cooperation Exchange Conference, Forum on China-Africa Industrial Cooperation and Cross-border E-commerce Development and the Second National China-Africa Trade Index Seminar, and the 2026 China-Africa Trade Commodity Exhibition.
The forum released a number of cooperation outcomes. Two important outcomes under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation were unveiled: the China-Africa Trade Digitalization Trust Verification Platform, released by China Article Numbering Center Co., Ltd., and the 2026 Corporate Social Responsibility Report of Chinese Business in Africa, released by the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters and the China Alliance for Social Responsibility of Chinese Enterprises in Africa.
In terms of economic and trade cooperation, Yiwu released World’s Yiwu: Bridging China and Africa Through Trade — A New China-Africa Trade & Economic Cooperation Model, showcasing Yiwu’s new mechanisms and pathways for business cooperation with the African market.
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Zhejiang Provincial Committee released the Zero-Tariff Trade with Africa Compliance Guide, helping to enhance the quality and efficiency of practical China-Africa economic and trade cooperation.
The 15th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum was held concurrently. Founded in 2011 and later incorporated into the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the forum has held 14 sessions in China and Africa, producing a series of think tank outcomes with international influence.
Among them, four outcomes, including the “China-Africa Dar es Salaam Consensus” jointly released by the forum and scholars from more than 50 African countries, were written into the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027).
This year’s 15th meeting, themed “Openness, Cooperation, Mutual Learning and Shared Development: China and Africa Joining Hands to Advance Modernization”, featured four sub-topics, including “Advance the Comprehensive Zero-tariff Arrangement and Establish a New Framework for China Africa Cooperation on Industrial and Supply Chains”.
It released outcomes including the “Think Tank Action Declaration on Advancing Modernization in the Global South Through China-Africa Cooperation” and the “China-Africa Consensus on Mutual Learning Between Civilizations”. African think tanks from South Africa, Gabon, and other countries signed cooperation agreements with the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University.
As one of the important side events under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Forum on China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Cooperation has seen its profile steadily rise and its influence continue to expand, becoming an important platform for Zhejiang to serve the country’s overall diplomacy and support the modernization of the Global South.
Since 2024, the forum has facilitated the signing of more than 100 cooperation projects with Africa, with a total value exceeding 120 billion yuan, injecting new momentum into China-Africa cooperation as it moves toward higher quality, deeper levels, and broader areas.
This year’s forum focused on economic and trade cooperation as its main thrust, highlighting the principle of letting the market play the leading role and enabling major platforms to support and deliver big cooperation initiatives.
From natural peanut butter and cosmetic oils to fish leather products and dried fruits, exhibitors say the Rwandan market offers room for regional businesses to grow, particularly as consumers and manufacturers seek new suppliers.
Grace Onyango, representing Kenyan social enterprise Mamlo Foods, described Rwanda as a promising market after the company attracted interest in its natural peanut butter.
“We’ve discovered a goldmine in Rwanda,” she told IGIHE on Thursday, November 5, 2026, during the special Kenya Day event, highlighting new cross-border trade and investment potential.
Grace Onyango (right) described Rwanda as a promising market after the company attracted interest in its natural peanut butter.
Based in Busia, western Kenya, Mamlo Foods works with women peanut farmers, buying their produce and processing it into natural peanut butter. The company, founded in 2024, can process up to 720 kilogrammes of peanuts daily.
It already has orders through a Rwandan partner, Rainbow Health Food, and is exploring ways to expand its presence, including sourcing peanuts from local farmers and potentially establishing a microfactory in Rwanda.
Onyango said the company was encouraged by the response to its products at the fair, noting that introducing consumers to natural peanut butter could help build demand in a market where the product is not yet widely familiar.
Patrick Mutahi, director of Mukurweini Oil Enterprises, is also looking to build on interest from Rwandan businesses.
The Kenyan company produces cold-pressed castor and avocado oils, which are used by cosmetics manufacturers. Mutahi said he had identified five Rwandan cosmetics manufacturers interested in its products, with some having already made purchases and expressing plans for regular orders.
The Kenyan company produces cold-pressed castor and avocado oils, which are used by cosmetics manufacturers.
He sees an opportunity to supply local manufacturers that currently rely on imported oils, including products sourced from India.
Mutahi said the company is certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards, a credential he believes gives prospective buyers confidence in the quality of its products and supports its efforts to expand into regional markets.
“When I am certified in Kenya, my product can be accepted in this market. So there is no barrier of certification. If products can work in Kenya, even here in Rwanda, they can be used,” he highlighted.
For Ira Ambani, founder of Ambani Fish Leather, the fair offered an opportunity to introduce a different use for fish waste while exploring new markets for the company’s products.
The business sources Nile perch from Lake Turkana in northern Kenya and processes the discarded fish skins into leather used to make items such as bags and shoes.
A pair of sandals made by Ambani Fish Leather.
Ambani said the company had already found buyers in markets including Australia and Iceland, and was using the Kigali fair to introduce its products to potential partners in Rwanda and beyond.
She said the company had sold almost all the shoes it brought to the exhibition and was in discussions with potential Rwandan business partners.
“Coming here gives us an opportunity to meet people and understand what the market needs,” she remarked.
Ambani, who has been developing fish leather products since 2023, said the material offers strong tensile strength compared with conventional cow leather, while creating value from a resource that would otherwise go to waste.
Ambani says fish leather has strong tensile strength compared with conventional cow leather,
Edna Mbithi, founder of Rootrise Agri, said the company had also received a positive response from buyers in Kigali.
Rootrise works with about 300 farmers to produce dried fruits and vegetables. Mbithi said the company had sold out its mangoes and small pineapples at the fair and was in discussions with supermarkets and hotels.
She said Rwanda’s hospitality industry presented opportunities for suppliers of locally processed agricultural products, adding that the company was interested in building relationships that could support longer-term sales.
Turning regional trade into business opportunities
The experiences of the Kenyan exhibitors reflect the broader objective of the EAC MSMEs Trade Fair, which seeks to help small businesses access markets across the region and build commercial relationships beyond their home countries.
Kenya’s delegation included more than 600 businesses representing different sectors and counties, with exhibitors showcasing products ranging from agricultural processing and food products to leather goods and cosmetics inputs.
Henry Rithaa, Director General and CEO of the Kenya Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), said the experiences of exhibitors showed how regional trade fairs could help small businesses move from displaying products to securing commercial relationships.
Henry Rithaa (right), Director General and CEO of the Kenya Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), poses with a trader at the expo in Kigali.
He said Kenyan businesses had identified opportunities in sectors including beauty products, oils, leather, food processing and machinery, while some had already secured orders.
Rithaa also pointed to Rwanda’s hospitality industry as an area where Kenyan businesses could expand.
“The second opportunity we have seen in Rwanda is in the hospitality industry. Kenyans have loved this sector, and we see an opportunity now to grow outside our country so that you can also taste Kenyan cuisine,” he stated.
He said businesses needed to understand what customers require, maintain quality and build the capacity to fulfil larger orders. Support for small enterprises should therefore go beyond helping them exhibit products to preparing them to compete in regional markets.
Kenya Day showcased Kenyan products alongside the country’s diverse culture.
Susan Mang’eni, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for MSME Development, confirmed the fair had helped some Kenyan exhibitors secure deals with retail chains in Kigali, while others had sold out their stocks.
She said the Kenyan government planned to bring together participating businesses and relevant agencies after the event to review the outcomes and help exhibitors follow up on contacts made during the exhibition.
“We want, when we go back to Kenya, we sit down, we share experience, and we come up with an action plan on what we need to do,” she said.
Regina Akoth Ombam, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Trade, said stronger trade among neighbouring countries was essential to expanding opportunities for businesses across the region.
“The best way and the only way you can grow in trade is when you first start trading with your neighbours,” she stressed.
She called for continued efforts to improve trade facilitation, logistics and market connectivity, while addressing barriers that make it difficult for goods and services to move across borders.
While opening the fair earlier this week, Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva highlighted the scale of the regional market, citing annual demand for about 290 million pairs of shoes in East Africa against local production of only 17 million pairs.
“We want these MSMEs to grow up. We want you to be billionaires, and we are here to help. Government institutions and financial partners are ready to help small enterprises expand their capacity and take advantage of the wider regional market,” he said.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, Annette Ssemuwemba Mutaawe, urged exhibitors to turn the contacts made at the fair into lasting business relationships.
“We want to extend beyond the trade fair through partnerships that are long-lasting, that deliver trade benefits, create jobs and also contribute to the economic development of this region,” she said.
Held from October 30 to November 8, 2026, the 26th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair brings together about 1,500 exhibitors under the theme “Advancing Regional Value Chains in Leather and Horticulture”. Seven member states are participating, including Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, and Somalia.
The event seeks to strengthen trade among EAC partner states by connecting businesses, expanding market access and supporting the development of regional value chains.
Henry Rithaa (right), Director General and CEO of the Kenya Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), engages a trader at the expo in Kigali.Kenya Day showcased Kenyan products alongside the country’s diverse culture.
Exports reached $142.38 million (about Rwf210.4 billion) in the second quarter, up 248.3% from $40.88 million (about Rwf60.4 billion) recorded during the same period in 2025. First-quarter exports stood at $94.61 million (about Rwf139.8 billion).
If the current pace continues, Rwanda could set a new annual export record in the Chinese market.
Trade between Rwanda and China has expanded significantly in recent years, creating opportunities for Rwandan exporters while strengthening China’s position as a major supplier of goods to Rwanda.
Bilateral trade reached approximately $849 million in 2025, up from $300 million in 2019. Rwanda’s exports to China increased from $35 million to $227 million over the same period, representing growth of approximately 549%.
Registered investment by Chinese companies in Rwanda also rose from $460 million in 2024 to $548.5 million in 2025, an increase of 19%. Chinese businesses operate in sectors including manufacturing, infrastructure, construction, energy and real estate.
The growing commercial relationship is on display in Shanghai, where Rwanda is participating in the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE), running from November 5 to 10 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center.
Rwanda has participated in the expo since its inaugural edition in 2018. This year’s event has attracted 4,142 overseas exhibitors.
The exhibition spans more than 440,000 square metres, its largest area since the event began. More than 480 products and innovations are making their global, Asian or Chinese market debuts, offering exhibitors opportunities to reach new buyers.
The event brings together 162 countries, regions and international organisations. Its Country Exhibition features 65 countries and four international organisations, while the programme includes 23 themed forums, 80 supporting events and the inaugural Report on Capacity for Exporting to China.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang described the market the expo seeks to connect with, saying: “Today China is both a world factory and a world market.”
At the Rwandan pavilion, businesses are showcasing specialty coffee, tea, chili, dried fruits, natural honey, macadamia nuts and handicrafts.
For Ivan Shema, founder of 1000 Hills Products, the expo presents an opportunity to connect with buyers in Asia.
The company adds value to Rwandan coffee and fruit and has exported coffee to Poland since 2015, from where its products reach other European markets.
At this year’s expo, it is presenting coffee, dried pineapple and mango, as well as fresh avocado.
“We are expecting that we can have a market in China,” Shema told IGIHE, adding that the company is ready to supply both roasted and green coffee.
Rwanda and China are also marking 55 years of diplomatic relations. Rwanda’s participation in the expo builds on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced in September 2024 and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to China, Amb. Lt Gen (Rtd) Emmanuel Karenzi Karake, said CIIE provides local businesses with an important platform to connect with Chinese buyers.
“CIIE has proven to be an invaluable platform for Rwandan enterprises, particularly smallholder farmers and women-led cooperatives, to access the Chinese market and build lasting business partnerships. … Every cup of Rwandan coffee or taste of our honey enjoyed by Chinese consumers represents an opportunity to support Rwandan farmers, families and entrepreneurs,” he said.
Zero tariffs could widen export opportunities
China-Africa trade reached a record $348.05 billion (about Rwf514.4 trillion) in 2025, up 17.7% from the previous year.
China imported $123.02 billion (about Rwf181.8 trillion) worth of African goods while exporting US$225.03 billion (about Rwf332.6 trillion) to the continent.
In Rwanda’s second quarter of 2026, China was the country’s largest source of imports, supplying goods worth $415.89 million (about Rwf614.7 billion).
The figures illustrate the two-way nature of the relationship, with Rwanda exporting agricultural and other products to China while importing a wide range of manufactured goods.
Chinese exports to Rwanda include vehicles, electrical equipment, machinery, construction materials and textiles. In 2025, vehicle exports were valued at approximately $130.45 million (about Rwf192.8 billion), electrical and electronic equipment at $114.65 million (about Rwf169.5 billion), and machinery at $46.62 million (about Rwf68.9 billion).
China imported merchandise worth approximately $2.59 trillion (about Rwf3,828 trillion) in 2025 and exported $3.77 trillion (about Rwf5,572 trillion).
It has remained the world’s second-largest goods importer for 17 consecutive years and is a major export destination for nearly 80 countries.
Ding said China does not deliberately pursue trade surpluses, emphasising the importance of more balanced international trade.
“We pursue a positive, dynamic and upward-oriented trade balance, striving for more balanced, coordinated and inclusive global development,” he said.
An important development for African exporters is China’s zero-tariff treatment for eligible goods.
The policy took effect for qualifying Rwandan products on December 1, 2024. On May 1, 2026, it was extended to all 53 African countries with which China maintains diplomatic relations, subject to applicable rules of origin and product requirements.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said imports from Africa reached $28.61 billion (about Rwf42.3 trillion) in May and June, up 23.5% from the same period in 2025.
During the period, African avocado imports increased by 130%, apple imports by 89.6% and orange imports by 27.9%.
“We will continue hosting the ‘Export-to-China’ series events, import more high-quality goods and services,” Ding said.
China’s expanding consumer market also presents opportunities for exporters. The country projects annual retail sales of consumer goods to reach approximately 60 trillion yuan (about Rwf13,235.7 trillion), while its services sector is expected to exceed 100 trillion yuan (about Rwf22,059.5 trillion) by the end of its 15th Five-Year Plan period.
Trade between Rwanda and China has expanded significantly in recent years, creating opportunities for Rwandan exporters while strengthening China’s position as a major supplier of goods to Rwanda.Exports reached $142.38 million (about Rwf210.4 billion) in the second quarter, up 248.3% from $40.88 million (about Rwf60.4 billion) recorded during the same period in 2025.In Rwanda’s second quarter of 2026, China was the country’s largest source of imports, supplying goods worth $415.89 million (about Rwf614.7 billion).
Introduced under the promise “Designed for All. Perfectly Tuned to You” (Ni Iyawe), EMMA was launched in Kigali on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The platform allows customers to send and receive money, pay for goods and services, save and access digital loans through a mobile application or USSD code (*555*6#), without necessarily having an existing Equity Bank account.
The platform connects users to participating banks and mobile money providers, including MTN MoMo and Airtel Money, through Rwanda’s national digital payment and retail interoperability eKash system, enabling transactions across supported networks.
Equity Bank Rwanda Managing Director Hannington Namara said the platform responds to a gap between widespread access to digital payments and the ability to obtain financial resources to invest in personal and business ambitions.
He cited figures from the 2024 FinScope survey showing that 96% of Rwandan adults are financially included, while only about 22% hold formal bank accounts.
Namara argued that access to mobile money does not necessarily translate into access to capital, noting that the bank wants to move beyond financial inclusion towards what he described as economic inclusion.
“Financial inclusion has been done by many. At Equity, we want to deliver economic inclusion,” he said.
He explained that the bank intends to use customers’ transaction histories to assess their creditworthiness, potentially allowing them to access loans without providing traditional collateral or going through lengthy paperwork.
“The end in mind with EMMA is that your transaction history, or your transaction data, will be your collateral,” Namara said.
Under this approach, customers who consistently use the platform would build financial records that the bank could use to determine their borrowing limits.
Namara said the ambition is to make access to credit as straightforward as purchasing airtime or paying for electricity.
Bringing banking into everyday transactions
The app also allows customers to pay merchants directly from their EMMA accounts, including businesses using mobile money merchant codes, without first transferring funds to another wallet.
The account has no minimum opening balance or monthly maintenance fees. Transfers between EMMA users, payments to Equity accounts, deposits through approved agents, airtime purchases and payments to merchants connected to eKash are free.
Transfers to participating external banks and mobile money wallets attract a flat fee of Rwf20, while standard charges apply to cash withdrawals and specified services.
Namara said the platform was designed to address the limitations of traditional banking, where customers often turn to mobile money services outside banking hours.
“For a long time, banks have been accused of not being daily relevant. When we close doors in the evening, people retreat to mobile money. Weekends, public holidays, we were not as relevant as banks,” he said.
He added that the bank wants customers to access financial services whenever they need them, rather than being restricted by conventional banking hours.
“Your money has a lot to do, so it deserves an account that does more,” Namara said.
Beyond payments, EMMA offers Regular Savings and Term Savings accounts for customers seeking to build capital for planned expenses, including school fees and business investments.
Eligible customers can also access an overdraft facility to meet short-term financial needs, including working capital requirements. Digital loans are also available to eligible users, with borrowing amounts, repayment periods and total charges disclosed before acceptance.
Targeting farmers, entrepreneurs and content creators
The platform also includes dedicated services targeting specific economic groups.
Through EquiFarm, verified farmers linked to agricultural anchors can receive payments for their harvests, purchase certified agricultural inputs and access tailored agricultural financing.
EMMA also provides group accounts for collective financial goals, humanitarian and social protection accounts for targeted welfare payments, and device financing for eligible customers purchasing from certified suppliers.
The bank is also looking to expand its presence in the creative and media industries.
During the launch, Rita Okuthe, Commercial Director at Equity Technology Group, announced a partnership with Zinc Events, saying the bank wants to develop financial services that respond to the needs of people working in the creative industry.
Namara added that Equity is developing capabilities that will allow content creators to monetise their work through the platform.
The bank also plans to introduce additional international payment capabilities, including Apple Pay, Alipay and PayPal.
Rwanda first launch market
EMMA is being introduced in Rwanda before its planned expansion into other African markets where Equity Group operates.
Okuthe said Rwanda was chosen as the first market for EMMA because of its favourable environment for financial innovation and secure digital transactions.
Namara said the platform would continue evolving based on customer feedback, noting that additional services would be introduced as the bank expands its capabilities.
Customers aged 18 and above can open an account using an active mobile number and a National ID, Foreign ID or Refugee ID. Customers can register through the EMMA app or seek assistance at an authorised Equity onboarding channel, agent or branch.
Customers under 18 follow a separate guardian-led Junior Wallet journey, while sole traders and registered organisations may require additional documents or assisted onboarding.
Introduced under the promise “Designed for All. Perfectly Tuned to You” (Ni Iyawe), EMMA was launched in Kigali on Thursday, November 5, 2026.The platform connects users to participating banks and mobile money providers, including MTN MoMo and Airtel Money, through Rwanda’s national digital payment and retail interoperability eKash system, enabling transactions across supported networks.Beyond payments, EMMA offers Regular Savings and Term Savings accounts for customers seeking to build capital for planned expenses, including school fees and business investments.The highly engaging and vibrant launch featured a range of games for attendees.EMMA is being introduced in Rwanda before its planned expansion into other African markets where Equity Group operates.
“I don’t see any good reason why we will not be successful in China in the upcoming decades,” said WFL Managing Director Stefan Hackl. His company will make a double debut: its first appearance at the import expo after more than 20 years in the Chinese market, and the Asian debut of its brand-new machine tool.
The company’s confidence is rooted in part in the vision behind the CIIE, an initiative championed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has personally planned and steered its development. Designed to give overseas businesses greater access to the vast and growing Chinese market, the expo has increasingly turned China’s development into opportunities for the world.
Now in its ninth year, the CIIE has become a regular fixture on the global trade calendar. Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the expo will bring together 4,142 overseas exhibitors, including more than 2,000 first-time participants like WFL.
In the weeks leading up to the expo, shipments from around the world continued to arrive in Shanghai, bringing in a diverse range of products, from Peruvian bananas and French tires to Australian coffee and Kazakh ice cream, all ready to meet buyers at the event.
As the world’s first national-level exhibition dedicated to imports, the CIIE offers a compelling response to rising protectionism and trade barriers. Rather than viewing trade as a competition for a limited share of global demand, it seeks to make the world economic pie bigger by creating opportunities for businesses and economies to grow together.
“Our aim is to turn the China market into a market for the world, a market shared by all, and a market accessible to all,” Xi has said. “This way, we will be able to bring more positive energy to the global community.”
A promise kept
In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the first CIIE in 2018, Xi said the expo is “an important decision made by China to pursue a new round of high-level opening-up, and is China’s major initiative to still widen market access to the rest of the world.”
“China’s initiative to expand imports is not a choice of expediency. It is a future-oriented step taken to embrace the world and promote common development,” Xi said, pledging that the event would be held annually and “feature good performance, good results and continued success in the years to come.”
Eight years on, the CIIE has grown into a premier global platform for trade, investment and cultural exchanges, connecting businesses, innovators and consumers from around the world. The promise of an annual expo with lasting results has been borne out by its growth.
Past editions have drawn more than 180 countries, regions and international organizations and seen more than 3,400 new products, technologies and services make their debut, while cumulative intended deals have exceeded 580 billion U.S. dollars, according to the organizer.
“The CIIE is far more than a trade show,” said Jérôme Vanachter, president of Lesaffre Greater China. The French yeast maker is back for a ninth consecutive edition this year.
Calling the expo a “market-intelligence hub,” Vanachter said the CIIE helps turn market insights into products.
Past expos have also seen Xi announce a series of opening-up measures, including advancing the development of pilot free trade zones and the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), continuously trimming the negative lists for foreign investment, and expanding the opening of telecommunications, healthcare and other services.
These pledges were followed by concrete actions. In November 2024, China removed the last two manufacturing-related restrictions from its national negative list for foreign investment. Last December, the Hainan FTP launched island-wide special customs operations, a milestone in China’s drive for high-standard opening-up.
“Today, the CIIE has become a showcase of China’s new development paradigm, a platform for high-standard opening-up, and a public good for the whole world,” Xi said at the fifth edition of the event in 2022.
The role of the CIIE in China’s opening-up agenda is expected to continue in the years ahead. In its five-year development blueprint for the 2026-2030 period, the country has called for expanding imports and continuing to hold the CIIE and other major trade fairs, including the Canton Fair in south China, while strengthening trade-promotion platforms.
A market shared by all
“Economic globalization represents the trend of history,” Xi said at the second CIIE in 2019, likening it to the world’s great rivers — the Yangtze, the Nile, the Amazon and the Danube, which all “surge forward in relentless flow, and nothing can stop their mighty movement.”
China has been translating this vision into action by opening wider. Quality products from an increasing number of countries are finding a foothold in the Chinese market, generating profits for businesses, wages for workers and tax revenues in their home countries.
For 17 consecutive years, China has remained the world’s second-largest importer. Also in the first three quarters of 2026, the country’s imports rose 22.3 percent year on year, significantly outpacing export growth.
“The vastly huge China market is the most promising in the world,” Xi noted at the third CIIE in 2020, citing the country’s huge population and vast middle-income group.
The country’s retail sales of consumer goods surpassed 50 trillion yuan (about 7.44 trillion U.S. dollars) for the first time last year, and are expected to grow by another 10 trillion yuan over the next five years.
The appeal of the Chinese market is reflected in the growing participation of global businesses in the CIIE, which has attracted a record number of more than 300 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders this year.
In terms of exhibition space, U.S. exhibitors lead for the eighth consecutive year, occupying more than 50,000 square meters, while companies from Germany, the United Kingdom and France also rank among the top participants.
Over 480 products are set to make their global, Asian or China debut at the event, the highest number in history, underscoring the Chinese market’s growing role as a launchpad for global innovation.
Under Xi’s leadership, China has also sought to make the opportunities offered by its market more accessible to developing countries. For years, the CIIE has provided free exhibition booths to exhibitors from the world’s least developed countries.
This year, according to the organizer, the exhibition area for African businesses is set to increase steadily, while the space allocated for free booths for the least developed countries will expand by 17 percent.
An official delegation from Cote d’Ivoire will make its first appearance at the CIIE’s business exhibition this year, showcasing cocoa, coffee, cashews and kola nuts. In May, a zero-tariff policy took effect on imports from all 53 African countries with which China has diplomatic relations.
“We are very happy to participate for the first time,” said Rami Koné, an official with the country’s export agency. “This will be a good opportunity to showcase Cote d’Ivoire to the world.”
“Of the problems confronting the world economy, none can be resolved by a single country alone,” Xi once said. “We must all put the common good of humanity first rather than place one’s own interest above the common interest of all.”
As Xi has pledged, China will continue to open its arms to the world, offering countries greater opportunities for market access, investment and growth. “Together, we can achieve development for all,” he has said.
This photo taken on Nov. 2, 2026 shows a view of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. The ninth edition of the CIIE will take place in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)
