Kigali, September 24, 2026: Rwanda and Pakistan today signed a Trade Cooperation Agreement aimed at expanding bilateral trade and investment, promoting local production and strengthening business-to-business linkages between the two countries.
The agreement was signed by Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Antoine Kajangwe, and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Naeem Khan, at the Rwanda–Pakistan Investment Forum 2026 in Kigali. The three-day Forum, being held from September 23 to 25, has brought together government representatives, investors, business leaders, manufacturers and entrepreneurs from both countries.
The signing represents a major outcome of the Investment Forum, which is focused on translating the longstanding Rwanda–Pakistan relationship into greater economic cooperation through trade, investment, joint ventures, manufacturing, technology transfer and business-to-business engagement.
The Forum was attended by prominent members of the Pakistani delegation, including Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan, Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Africa Economic Council (PAEC), and Ms. Misbah Khar, Advisor to the Chairman Senate and Ambassador of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC), Dr Rubina Malik, Focal Person, Prime Minister Youth Program, alongside Pakistani business leaders, investors and representatives of the private sector.
Under the agreement, Rwanda and Pakistan will strengthen cooperation in trade facilitation, exchange of information on trade and investment opportunities, and linkages between private-sector organisations, including Rwanda’s Private Sector Federation and Pakistan’s chambers of commerce. The agreement also covers cooperation in areas including manufacturing and technology, while Rwanda is seeking greater Pakistani investment in agro-processing, textiles and pharmaceuticals.
Speaking on the occasion, Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry said the agreement would strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, particularly by encouraging production in both countries and expanding trade in locally produced goods. He highlighted the potential for Rwanda and Pakistan to move beyond conventional trade towards production partnerships, value addition and job creation.
Rwanda Development Board Deputy CEO Juliana Muganza said the agreement comes as both countries seek to translate longstanding diplomatic relations into stronger commercial ties. She noted that bilateral trade reached US$236.4 million between 2023 and 2025, while Rwanda recorded seven Pakistani investment projects worth more than US$2 million during the period.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Rwanda, Naeem Khan, highlighted the complementary strengths of the two economies and identified opportunities for increased Pakistani imports of Rwandan products, including tea, coffee, avocado, beans, lentils and pulses. He also pointed to opportunities for Pakistani companies in Rwanda in areas including agricultural machinery, construction, hospitality, healthcare and education.
The Investment Forum has provided a platform for Pakistani businesses to explore Rwanda not only as a market but also as a base for production, joint ventures and expansion into wider African markets. RDB has highlighted its investor facilitation services, including business registration, licensing, access to incentives and industrial infrastructure, as well as linkages with local businesses.
The Forum also features opportunities for Pakistani companies to showcase their products and engage directly with Rwandan businesses and institutions, with discussions covering manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, information technology, tourism, logistics and other sectors.
The signing of the Trade Cooperation Agreement marks a significant step in institutionalising economic engagement between Rwanda and Pakistan and is expected to provide a stronger foundation for increased trade, investment, joint ventures, technology transfer and private-sector cooperation between the two countries.
