India, Rwanda to deepen bilateral trade, boost business-to-business engagement
New Delhi, Aug 1
India and Rwanda have committed to expand bilateral trade and boost business-to-business engagement, as they reviewed the current state of bilateral trade in goods and services, an official statement said on Saturday.
India remains Rwanda's largest source of pharmaceutical imports, accounting for about 24.5 per cent of the country's pharmaceutical imports.
The two sides identified several priority areas for sectoral cooperation. In critical minerals, India expressed interest in strengthening collaboration on Rwanda's tin, tungsten and tantalum resources, including institutional cooperation between the Geological Survey of India and the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board.
The first session of the India-Rwanda Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was held in New Delhi and the Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Amit Kumar.
The Rwandan delegation was led by Director General, Asia, Pacific and Middle East Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Virgile Rwanyagatare.
India's principal exports to Rwanda include drug formulations and biologicals, two- and three-wheelers, industrial and electrical machinery, oil meals, and iron and steel products, while Rwanda's exports to India comprise lead, spices, essential oils, copper, precious and semi-precious stones, processed agricultural products and minerals.
Both sides agreed to make concerted efforts to diversify the bilateral trade basket, facilitate business-to-business engagement and address market access issues, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
India highlighted the potential to expand exports of heavy engineering goods, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, refined petroleum products, textiles, marine products, plastics, sports goods and toys, gems and jewellery, and scientific instruments.
Rwanda identified chillies, macadamia, French beans, avocados, essential oils, tea, coffee, other horticultural products, minerals and precious stones as priority exports to India.
The two sides also discussed cooperation on harmonisation of standards, including capacity building between the Bureau of Indian Standards and the Rwanda Standards Board, said the statement.
Rwanda noted that India is its second largest foreign investor (as of 2025) and highlighted opportunities in mining, agro-processing, affordable housing, information and communication technology, manufacturing, healthcare, tourism and financial services.
Both sides designated Invest India and the Rwanda Development Board as investment focal points under the JTC framework and agreed to exchange calendars of trade fairs, business forums and Buyer-Seller Meets.
The discussions also covered cooperation in agriculture and agro-processing, including market access for avocados; textiles and leather; green mobility; digital public infrastructure; fintech and cybersecurity; and renewable energy.
Both sides agreed to hold the second session of the India-Rwanda Joint Trade Committee in Rwanda after one year.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally some concrete steps! Rwanda has been growing steadily and Indian companies should tap into their agro-processing and IT sectors. The idea of exchanging trade fair calendars is practical - our MSMEs need more exposure to African markets. But I hope we also address the trade imbalance and import more from Rwanda, not just export.
The critical minerals angle is very promising. Rwanda has significant 3T (tin, tungsten, tantalum) reserves which are vital for semiconductors and capacitors. With China controlling much of the global processing, India should invest in Rwanda's mining infrastructure. Also, our pharma dominance there shows trust in Indian quality. Good article, but would have liked more specifics on the investment numbers.
Impressive to see India's soft power at work in Africa. The Rwandan delegation coming to Delhi for the first JTC shows seriousness. I particularly liked the mention of green mobility and fintech cooperation - that's where Indian startups can really shine. Also, with Rwanda being the cleanest and most organised country in Africa, it's a good entry point for Indian investors.
I'm a bit concerned about the focus on minerals extraction. We should ensure that such partnerships are sustainable and benefit the local Rwandan communities too. However,
A Amit Kumar (no, not the Jt Secy 😄) Nice to see the JTC mechanism working. The focus on standards harmonisation is crucial - if BIS and Rwanda Standards Board align, our exporters won't face those silly certification hurdles. Also, Rwanda is a gateway to East Africa, so this could open up bigger markets. Good diplomatic move by both sides. We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.