DR Congo’s Minister urges Rwandan local products to be often exported to Kinshasa

During the visit of Lambert Matuku Memas, Minister for External Trade of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was recently in Rwanda where he was briefed on diverse economic activities which can benefit citizens of both nations.

DR Congo’s Minister, Memas also visited rural areas in Rwanda to see how the villagers implement several policies to thrive their business and enhance trade activities. He also visited Rulindo district and came across business owners who promote the Made-in-Rwanda initiative through agro-processing.

The Congolese Minister also came to know how the government of Rwanda offers incentives while commencing the businesses through tax holidays and help to find the owners markets abroad. He observed how juice, wine and biscuits, among other products, are made out of farm produce mainly, passion fruit, at Urwibutso Enterprise owned by Sina Gerard, as reported by The New Times.

He repeated the commitment of DR Congo’s government to enhancing bilateral ties with Rwanda, mainly through strengthening trade between two nations. He also requested that products from Urwibutso Enterprise and other locally made products, including foodstuff, should be regularly exported to Kinshasa.

Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi, the Governor of Northern Province in Rwanda said to The New Times that the province was ready to take advantage of the DR Congo market. “We have a new cement plant which will be functional by September that will be supplying high quality cement to Goma and in other parts of Eastern DR Congo. We also have Burera garment factory, which is set to export high quality clothes,” he added.

“The message to residents of Northern Province is that market for products is guaranteed. Farmers should strive to maximise production as there is a huge market that awaits them. The same message goes to these processing plants and individuals; you should all embrace regional integration as it is the backbone of progress that we want,” he further said.

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