Yesterday in a meeting between Rwandan and Ugandan traders, the Rwandan Minister of Infrastructures, Prof Silas Rwakabamba said that problems relating to trade will be solved after the completion of a construction of a railway that joins Mombasa port to Kigali, known as Northern corridor.
Prof Rwakabamba revealed that not later than 2018 the railway construction project will be fulfilled,with its infrastructures such tubes to carry fuel between Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda.
Other infrastructures will be made available ,these include the construction of a power plant of Rusumo that will be supplying electric power to the rest of Rwanda and Tanzania.
As normally Rwanda faces issues relating to its being landlocked ,which causes the delay of goods to reach Kigali,now that the railway will made available,the distance and costs will decrease.
Ugandan and Rwandan traders meet every year to discuss on ways to foster their cooperation as to increase partnership between both nations.
The one of the last year took place in Uganda.This year’s meeting took place yesterday at Kigali Serena Hotel where Ugandan delegation urged Rwandans to increase the quantity and the quality of their products to the Ugandan markets.
Traders from both nations thanked political authorities from both countries to have eased transport and exchange between both nations especially at the boarders.
There several other policies set up to facilitate the trade between both nations.
RRA(Rwanda Revenue Authority) told the traders that the issues of high taxes cannot be abolished as Rwandan needs private sector to help it promote development through paying taxes.
It is planned that Rwanda,Uganda and Kenya will be using a single ID as a passport across the tree nations.This will facilitate free movement of people and goods between these nations.
In 2011 Uganda and Rwanda exchanged goods worthy $192 M while it is planned that the partnership will be producing $ 241 M in the near future.
Daddy Sadiki RUBANGURA
UM– USEKE.RW
