Ethiopian Airline has launched cargo flights Congo Brazzaville to cater for Rwanda farmers experiencing difficulties in finding Market for their products.
Launched during May 2013 the initiative will see traders and Crop growers exporting products including meat, fruits, vegetables, flour and milk to Congo Brazzaville
“This will enable us reach larger markets,” said Lilian Karigirwa who before the launch, exported only one ton of meat to Congo-Brazaville.
Local farmers are sometimes forced to sell their produce at give away prices during surplus times for lack of access to available markets in the region.
The cargo flight initiative is an outcome of a trade mission to Brazzaville two years ago to explore trade opportunities between Rwanda and Congo.
“RwandAir was supposed to take exporters products to the central African country, but an increase in the number of passengers on the route made it impossible, ” said the minister of Trade and Industry, Francois Kanimba.
We therefore decided to negotiate with other companies that have cargo planes and concluded a deal with Ethiopian Airline.
For now, Ethiopian Airlines is able to carry only 30 tons per week but will eventually increase to 60.
The search for markets has also taken Rwandan officials to Gabon and Burundi. Rwandan business people have also been facilitated to attend regional trade fairs in Tanzania and Uganda.
Kanimba says Turkey, Qatar and the Middle East in general will be the next targeted as the country’s search for new markets. The target is to increase exports by at least 28% every year.
“We really still have a long way to go to balance exports and imports, but that’s our priority,” Kanimba said.
“This is a big target, but experience from the recent past in expanding our markets indicates that it can be achieved. The remaining concern is to entice Rwandans to work hard so that we can get enough products for export,” he said.
This is in line with the government commitment to increase exports so as to narrow the existing trade imbalance. Last year, imports were valued at $2.2 billion against exports of just $800 million.