Kenya-Rwanda Trade Week 2025 : Powering trade and investment in East Africa
From June 25 to 27, 2025, Kigali will host the Rwanda–Kenya Trade Week, a major event designed to unlock commercial potential and strengthen partnerships between two of the region’s most dynamic economies. Three days of exchange, B2B meetings, investment forums, and panels with key players in trade and policy, working together to build the next East African economic frontier.
The Rwanda–Kenya Trade Week 2025, organized by the Nation Media Group, is set to be a true catalyst for cross-border growth between Rwanda and Kenya. These two nations, pillars of East African economic integration, aim to fully leverage the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the East African Community (EAC).
With over 300 million people in the EAC region, integration promotes the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people. This creates a vast market conducive to growing trade, cross-border investment, and infrastructure development.
Trade growing strongly, but still room for improvement
The numbers confirm this positive momentum. In 2024, the value of Kenyan exports to Rwanda soared from USD 35.56 million in September to USD 121.4 million in October—a growth of over 240%. Kenya is now Rwanda’s second-largest supplier, with Rwandan imports from Kenya up 360% year-on-year.
Rwanda, for its part, mainly exports to the UAE, DR Congo, Luxembourg, Uganda, the US, the UK, and China. In October 2024, the value of Rwandan exports rose 61.81% compared to October 2023, despite a temporary drop from September 2024.
However, Rwanda’s trade deficit remains large, at USD 363.65 million in October 2024, although this deficit fell 7.37% compared to the previous month. Rwandan imports in October were mainly food and live animals (USD 115.8 million), as well as beverages, tobacco, fuels, chemicals, and machinery.
Financial integration facilitated by PAPSS
A significant turning point in economic cooperation between Rwanda and Kenya was the integration of the Pan‑African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) by Bank of Kigali and KCB Group. Developed by Afreximbank in partnership with the AU Commission and AfCFTA, PAPSS enables instant cross-border payments in local currencies, drastically reducing costs and transaction times.
Customers of both banks can now make secure, direct transfers via mobile apps, greatly facilitating commercial exchanges between the two countries. Mike Ogbalu III, CEO of PAPSS, emphasized that the system is a key step in unlocking intra-African trade potential, which currently stands at just 16% of the continent’s total trade.
Challenges and opportunities for a stronger partnership
Despite these advances, challenges remain. Weak financial integration continues to be a barrier, along with regulatory hurdles and regional trade tensions—particularly with Tanzania in the dairy sector, where import restrictions on Rwandan products are affecting free movement.
Additionally, the Rwanda–Kenya Trade Week 2025 will be an opportunity to discuss how to overcome these hurdles and explore innovative solutions, notably in real estate investment—a booming sector in Kigali, fueled by rapid urbanization and a growing middle class.
Rwanda–Kenya Trade Week 2025: An unmissable event
Rwandan entrepreneurs aiming to expand into Kenya, and Kenyan investors seeking opportunities in Rwanda’s economy—this June’s Trade Week is your ideal platform.
With B2B matchmaking sessions, cross-border investment forums, and participation from political and financial players, it’s a unique moment to forge solid partnerships and help shape the next phase of East African growth.
