The Rwandan Minister of Trade and Industry, Francois Kanimba, has announced that by easing the country’s high transport costs, exports will receive a major boost.

New multi-service centres are to be established at export locations, which will greatly improve export volumes and help lower costs for exporters. Plans also include a new cargo centre, which will be used to airlift the country’s exports.

Kanimba told exporters about the plans at the recent Gabon exhibition in Libreville. He said: “We are looking at these centres to help us improve our volumes and see how our exporters can minimise costs because this is the only way we can boost our exports.”

Coffee, tea and minerals are the major exports in the country and make up 80% of Rwanda’s export earnings.

The initial growth predictions for the export sector were set at a 15% annual rise, but new predictions are set at up to 30% annually.