{"id":2000106494,"date":"2026-03-25T21:22:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T19:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/?p=2000106494"},"modified":"2026-03-25T23:15:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T21:15:35","slug":"37-million-trade-fund-approved-in-yaounde-opens-new-opportunities-for-rwandas-smes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/37-million-trade-fund-approved-in-yaounde-opens-new-opportunities-for-rwandas-smes\/","title":{"rendered":"$37 million trade fund approved in Yaound\u00e9 opens new opportunities for Rwanda\u2019s SMEs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The funding, approved during the WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaound\u00e9, falls under the third phase of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), a global initiative designed to help poorer nations strengthen their participation in international trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EIF was established by developed countries to support least developed nations in improving their trade capacity, particularly by helping them access international markets. The program focuses on building technical skills, enhancing production standards, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also provides training for workers and entrepreneurs seeking to expand into global markets. Since its launch in 2005, the program has been updated every ten years and is now entering its third phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to IGIHE on the sidelines of the conference, Sebahizi welcomed the development, noting that Rwanda will have another decade to leverage such support in strengthening its SME sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis means we have another 10 years to support small and medium enterprises in Rwanda to meet quality standards and access international markets,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He highlighted that many of Rwanda\u2019s existing export promotion initiatives, such as the \u201cZamukana Ubuziranenge\u201d program, already benefit from donor funding, including resources from the EIF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Institutions like the International Trade Centre (ITC) also play a key role in supporting SMEs through training and export facilitation, using funds from the same framework. Similarly, several United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiatives supporting entrepreneurs rely on EIF financing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn essence, many of the programs in Rwanda that help SMEs export their products are supported by these funds,\u201d Sebahizi explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although there are no precise figures showing how many businesses have benefited so far, Rwanda is preparing to actively compete for the newly approved funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To access the funds, the country must submit detailed proposals outlining how the money will be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cIf we need, for example, $2 million, we must present a solid business plan and compete with other countries seeking the same support,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Minister Prudence Sebahizi speaks during the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Yaound\u00e9.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Rwanda\u2019s Trade Minister Prudence Sebahizi addressing a joint WTO\u2013World Bank session in Cameroon. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rwanda is set to benefit from a newly approved $37 million fund aimed at supporting trade development among least developed and developing countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2000106498,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[151,69],"byline":[174],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000106494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-editors-choice","tag-homehighlights","byline-philbert-girinema"],"bylines":[{"id":174,"name":"Philbert Girinema","slug":"philbert-girinema","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":6}],"contributors":[{"id":174,"name":"Philbert Girinema","slug":"philbert-girinema","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":6}],"featured_image":{"id":2000106498,"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tlf_media__13.jpg-7b6ae.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Minister Prudence Sebahizihas dioscussed Rwanda\u2019s trade outlook amid shifting global tariff policies during an interview on the sidelines of the WTO meeting in Yaound\u00e9.","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":1000,"height":667,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tlf_media__13.jpg-7b6ae.jpg","width":150,"height":100},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tlf_media__13.jpg-7b6ae.jpg","width":300,"height":200},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tlf_media__13.jpg-7b6ae.jpg","width":768,"height":512},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tlf_media__13.jpg-7b6ae.jpg","width":1000,"height":667},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tlf_media__13.jpg-7b6ae.jpg","width":1000,"height":667}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000106494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000106494"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000106494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000106503,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000106494\/revisions\/2000106503"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000106498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000106494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000106494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000106494"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000106494"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000106494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}