Africa

CIIE became great platform for Rwandan pruducts

Rwanda showcased its products in China International Import Expo (CIIE) for the first time, as it intensifies efforts to diversify its exports.

The country is one the 172 nations participating at the exhibition, which ends today, 10th November 2018. The exhibition attracted more than 3,600 enterprises.

Rwanda was represented by the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), Utexrwa, C&H Garments, and Urumuri handcrafts.

Rwandan Coffee

This came just days after the Rwandan government launched a partnership with China’s Alibaba Group to market its tourism opportunities as well as sell its products on the company’s trading platform.

“The expo was a good opportunity to showcase Rwandan products, especially handcraft, textile and coffee,” said Samuel Abikunda, the economic attaché at the Rwandan embassy in China.

He added that coffee products that NAEB brought were sold out on the first day.

“It was a good opportunity to further promote our products, following the deal signed with Alibaba to bring Made-in-Rwanda products in the Chinese market through Alibaba platforms, added Abikunda.

Rwandan Traditional Textiles

Abikunda also said that Rwanda is planning to participate in other events in China to promote local products. One of the forthcoming events is the International Horticultural Exhibition, which will be held in Beijing from April 29 to October 7, 2019.

The expo was inaugurated by Chinese President Xi Jinping on 5th November 2018. The president called it a “trail-blazing” move in the history of international trade development, during his inaugural address.

The CIIE is “a major policy for China to push for a new round of high-level opening-up and a major measure for China to take the initiative to open its market to the world,” said Xi