The third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) will open new trade and investment opportunities through potential partnerships between participating Rwandan businesses and their Chinese counterparts.

The event will be held from 29 June to 2 July 2023 in the city of Changsha in Hunan Province and will provide a platform to showcase Made in Rwanda products.

With a rapidly growing economy and an increasing focus on innovation and investment, Rwanda has gained international recognition as a key player in Africa's economic landscape. The country's strategic location, stability, and business-friendly policies have attracted investors from around the globe.

According to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), bilateral trade and investment between Rwanda and China has been steadily growing. In 2022, the Rwanda Development Board has successfully registered investments worth US$182.4 million from China, indicating a notable increase of 31.2% compared to the previous year. This fact underscores the fruitful outcomes of the partnership between the two countries.

This, according to Rwandan Ambassador to China, H.E James Kimonyo is attributed to a number of factors including support provided by China to increase exports from Rwanda and the participation of Rwandan businesses in export promotion activities in China.  

“This is an exciting opportunity for Rwandan traders. CAETE is seen as a gateway for Rwandan entrepreneurs to attract Chinese investors to Rwanda. We saw positive results from the previous exhibitions where Rwandan traders signed trade deals with Chinese investors. This resulted in an increase of China's agricultural imports from Rwanda," H.E Kimonyo noted.

Organized by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the People’s Government of Hunan Province, CAETE is within the Framework of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The event will feature high-level meetings and forums where participants will engage in discussions on economic policies, investment opportunities, and trade cooperation.

Rwandan companies will take the opportunity and leverage these interactions to build relationships with potential partners, customers, and investors, and explore new business opportunities.

The annual event also focuses on attracting investments and partnerships in sectors including agriculture technology, innovation, energy and power, industrial parks, infrastructure development, finance, and health.