Rwandan Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva has urged East African businesses to look beyond regional borders and tap into markets across the continent, as Kigali hosts a major trade fair showcasing locally produced goods.
Footage shows Nsengiyumva cutting a ribbon to officially open the 26th East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Trade Fair on Tuesday. He tours the exhibition, where vendors display products ranging from framed artwork and woven goods to food items.
“But our ambitions must extend beyond the EAC. The presence of representatives from the AfCFTA and SADC reminds us that opportunities for our businesses lie in a much larger African market,” Rwandan Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva said.
Running until Sunday, the exhibition has attracted approximately 1,500 exhibitors from across East Africa and beyond, with a focus on leather and horticulture, two sectors with the potential to boost local production, create jobs and reduce dependence on imports.
East Africa needs nearly 290 million pairs of shoes annually, yet regional manufacturers produce only around 17 million, according to EAC figures. Nsengiyumva urged smaller businesses to scale up production to meet demand across the region.
“For the first time in the history of this trade fair, exhibitors have been organised by economic sector, bringing together enterprises engaged in similar activities regardless of their countries of origin,” EAC Deputy Secretary General for Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs Annette Ssemuwemba Mutaawe said.
“We are moving from showcasing products primarily by country to connecting businesses by sector from individual national exhibitions to opportunities for regional collaboration and from displaying products to creating stronger regional value chains,” she continued.
The fair, also known as the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition, gives entrepreneurs a chance to find buyers, forge partnerships and enter new markets across East Africa.
Rwanda aims to create 250,000 jobs annually and increase non-traditional exports from $1.4 billion to $3.2 billion over five years, with small businesses expected to play a key role in reaching those targets.
Source: Viory
