{"id":113010,"date":"2025-10-14T16:17:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T16:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets"},"modified":"2025-10-14T16:32:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T16:32:54","slug":"rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets","title":{"rendered":"Rwandan businesses eye service export markets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>The government is stepping up efforts to boost the export of services by enabling local providers to access and expand into regional and global markets, according to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have developed the National African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation Strategy and its Green Supplement, both of which prioritise trade in services as a key driver for inclusive and sustainable growth,\u201d Sebahizi said. \u201cThe ministry is also finalising a new trade policy to enhance digital trade and cross-border service exports.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that the ministry, in collaboration with development partners, is conducting capacity-building sessions to improve traders\u2019 understanding of market access conditions, export procedures, and regulatory requirements across AfCFTA and EAC markets.<\/p>\n

Exploring new markets in Djibouti<\/b><\/p>\n

Sebahizi noted that the ministry is carrying out market assessments in various regions to identify opportunities for Rwandan service providers and guide them on how to penetrate these markets effectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor instance, a potential market assessment is underway in Djibouti to explore service export opportunities and strengthen Rwanda\u2019s presence in the Horn of Africa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Service exports have become one of Rwanda\u2019s strongest economic pillars, contributing the largest share to the national GDP. Sebahizi highlighted that services such as ICT, tourism, logistics, and financial services play a key role in economic diversification and growth.<\/p>\n

According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, travel and tourism services alone earned the country about $579.5 million in 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy exporting services across EAC, COMESA, and AfCFTA markets, Rwanda deepens regional integration and leverages preferential access, positioning itself as a hub for business and innovation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Where Rwanda\u2019s strength lies<\/b><\/p>\n

Economic analyst John Bosco Kalisa stressed the need to intensify marketing of Rwanda\u2019s service-oriented sectors across the region to increase export earnings and diversify destinations.<\/p>\n

\u201cRwanda has strong comparative advantages in tourism and hospitality, transport and logistics, aviation, banking and insurance, professional and health-related services, as well as education,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He noted that Rwanda ranks second to Kenya in terms of diaspora remittances, driven by Rwandans investing back home.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur education sector, for example, attracts students from across Africa to universities such as Carnegie Mellon University Africa, the African School of Governance, and the African Leadership University. In the health sector, Rwanda is becoming a digital health hub and a model for universal coverage,\u201d Kalisa said.<\/p>\n

He called for increased investment in productive infrastructure, ICT skills, and a more conducive regulatory environment for service exports.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should make affordable finance available to service providers and offer incentives to attract investors in high-potential service sectors,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Regional integration still lagging<\/b><\/p>\n

Denis Karera, Vice Chair of the East African Business Council (EABC), said the initiative \u201cLeveraging Integration Frameworks for Trade in Services and Civil Society Organisations in the EAC\u201d is building traders\u2019 capacity to engage in cross-border services.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe project focuses on rules, regulations, and business concepts to enhance regional participation. Airlines, consultants, and IT providers are already working across borders,\u201d Karera said.<\/p>\n

However, he pointed out that despite frameworks like the EAC Common Market Protocol, the movement of labour and services remains limited.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany professionals\u2014lawyers, doctors, engineers, architects\u2014still face restrictions. For instance, Tanzanian laws prevent non-citizens from working in certain sectors. Such protectionism weakens regional cooperation,\u201d he said, noting that countries often hesitate to recognise each other\u2019s qualifications.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy overprotecting local jobs, countries also restrict their own professionals from accessing foreign markets. Engineers across East Africa have yet to mutually recognise qualifications despite years of negotiation,\u201d Karera added.<\/p>\n

He urged young professionals to seize opportunities in ICT, digital platforms, and cross-border markets.<\/p>\n

\u201cRwandan accountants, for example, can offer audit services in Juba or Nairobi,\u201d he suggested.<\/p>\n

Karera criticised the slow implementation of the Common Market Protocol, noting that \u201cafter 20 years, it has been implemented at only about 25 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local traders already expanding<\/b><\/p>\n

Noel Nkurikiye, Head of Consultant Tarzan of Transport Rwanda (COTATRARWA), said Rwandan firms are beginning to bid for transport consultancy projects in the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see foreign consultants coming to Rwanda\u2014we should also be exporting our expertise. But capacity building remains essential to bridge skills gaps,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Jacqueline Umuhoza, Head of Timtom Aviation, said her company has already exported air ticketing services to Goma, DRC, and plans to expand further.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is to reach more countries. We need knowledge and platforms to help us tap into available opportunities,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Rwanda<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. The government is stepping up efforts to boost the export of services by enabling local providers to access and expand into regional and global markets, according to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi. \u201cWe have developed the National African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation Strategy and its Green Supplement, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":113009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,15],"tags":[730,3598,4398,758,8382,8383],"class_list":["post-113010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-economy","tag-afcfta","tag-eac","tag-regional-integration","tag-rwanda","tag-rwanda-exports","tag-trade-in-services"],"yoast_head":"\nRwandan businesses eye service export markets - Rwanda<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The government is stepping up efforts to boost the export of services by enabling local providers to access and expand i ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Rwandan businesses eye service export markets\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The government is stepping up efforts to boost the export of services by enabling local providers to access and expand i ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Rwanda\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-10-14T16:17:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-14T16:32:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sites\/23\/2025\/10\/sm_1760446946.944661.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"597\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"Rwandan businesses eye service export markets\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-10-14T16:17:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-14T16:32:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets\"},\"wordCount\":752,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sites\/23\/2025\/10\/sm_1760446946.944661.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"AfCFTA\",\"eac\",\"regional integration\",\"Rwanda\",\"Rwanda exports\",\"TRADE IN SERVICES\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"Economy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/economy\/rwandan-businesses-eye-service-export-markets\",\"name\":\"Rwandan businesses eye service export markets - 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