Rwandan trade goes electronic

Rwanda has launched
a pilot electronic single
window project aimed at
speeding up international
trade flows with the
country.
“Once effectively
implemented, it will
improve the country’s
competitiveness in terms
of increased domestic
investment and foreign
trade due to the simplified
clearance processes,”
Francois Kanimba, the
Rwandan Minister for
Trade and Industry, said
last week during the
signing of a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU)
between the four agencies
implementing the pilot
project.
Those involved in
the pilot phase are
the Rwanda Revenue
Authority (RRA),
Rwanda Ministry of
Health (MoH), Rwanda
Development Board
(RDB), Rwanda Bureau
of Standards (RBS) and
Magasins Generaux du
Rwanda (MAGERWA).
A full roll-out is
planned for May this year.
The electronic
single window
allows information
and administrative
requirements for
imports and exports to
be submitted at a single
online entry point.
The US$3.3-m project
is financed by Trade Mark
East Africa.
“One of the biggest
challenges facing Rwanda
is its landlocked status.
Approximately 40% of the
price of imported goods
is related to the cost of
transport and logistics
from the Ports of Dar es
Salaam, Mombasa along
the corridors.” said Mark
Priestley, TradeMark East
Africa, Rwanda country
director.