The government’s ambition is clear: to enable local service providers from ICT startups to logistics and tourism operators to access wider African and global markets. According to Prudence Sebahizi, Minister of Trade and Industry,
Rwanda’s National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy and its Green Supplement both prioritise service exports as engines for long-term growth. We are now finalising a comprehensive trade policy that enhances digital trade and cross-border services.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry, working with development partners, is conducting a broad capacity-building programme aimed at equipping Rwandan traders with practical knowledge of market access procedures, export documentation, and regulatory requirements under both the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the East African Community (EAC).
These sessions are not just training workshops,” Sebahizi noted. “They are strategic efforts to make Rwandan firms competitive and compliant with international standards.
Through these initiatives, Rwandan businesses are learning how to navigate the often complex landscape of regional trade frameworks and to seize opportunities in digital services, consultancy, aviation, and creative industries.
Expanding footprint: from Kigali to Djibouti
As part of its expansion strategy, the ministry is conducting market assessments across emerging African regions to identify untapped opportunities for Rwandan service providers. One of the most significant studies is currently underway in Djibouti, where Rwanda seeks to establish stronger commercial ties in the Horn of Africa.
The Djibouti market assessment will guide our strategy for exporting Rwandan expertise,” Sebahizi said. “It’s part of our plan to expand beyond the Great Lakes and the EAC region.
This push is timely. According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), services now contribute the largest share to Rwanda’s GDP, with travel and tourism alone generating $579.5 million in 2024. ICT, finance, logistics, and aviation are also fast-growing sub-sectors contributing to job creation and export diversification. By expanding service exports across AfCFTA, COMESA, and EAC markets, Rwanda aims not only to earn foreign exchange but also to deepen regional integration and promote innovation-driven growth.
Local businesses taking the lead
Some Rwandan companies are already seizing opportunities in regional markets. Noel Nkurikiye, head of Consultant Tarzan of Transport Rwanda (COTATRARWA), revealed that Rwandan transport and logistics firms are bidding for consultancy projects across the region.
We see foreign experts coming into our country; we too must export our knowledge and expertise. But this requires continuous training and international exposure,
he said. In the aviation sector, Timtom Aviation, led by Jacqueline Umuhoza, is among the pioneers of cross-border service exports. The company has already expanded its air ticketing operations to Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is now eyeing additional markets in Central and Eastern Africa. Rwanda’s steady progress in services reflects its broader strategy to transition from an agrarian economy to a knowledge-based, innovation-driven model.
With strong political will, investment in ICT infrastructure, and partnerships under the AfCFTA, the country is laying the groundwork to become a continental hub for service exports particularly in sectors that combine technology, human capital, and efficiency.
