Rwanda and Ghana have launched a business forum that aims to boost the African Common Market, AfCFTA signed in 2020 in Kigali.
Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Jean-Chrysostome Ngabitsinze said the business forum aims to capitalize on business opportunities and strengthen public-private partnerships in both countries.
Stakeholder business, tourism, education, agriculture and others from both countries are among the guests on the forum. AfCFTA’s goal is to increase trade between these countries and to reduce the costs of exporting goods from one African country to another by 97%.
“The development of the industry in Africa is new, but we need to reform what we are doing so as to realize enough production on the African market. Low production of products is a challenge that is causing currency fluctuation in Africa. Let us go to bring opportunities in the market with more and better products and services,” Ngabitsinze said.
Bilateral deal
The bilateral agreement between the two countries is focused on various aspects including women empowerment, strengthening of bilateral trade, the development of technology, tourism, aviation and both sides have held study tours back and forth.
With Rwandair flights reaching Accra Ghana, Rwanda is in the process of exporting some of its products and service to Ghana. These include pesticides, pepper, flowers, animal products, coffee, honey and introducing cashless transportation such as Tap&Go. A similar forum is planned to be held in Kigali where Ghanaian companies will also present some of their products in order to expand their activities in Rwanda.
