Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Vincent Biruta, and his Tanzanian counterpart, January Makamba, committed to boosting the two countries’ bilateral ties in various sectors including trade, energy and infrastructure.
The pledge was made by the two ministers on Tuesday, March 12 in Kigali during a news conference that came after their delegations’ bilateral meeting.
Tanzania will “continue to make it easier for Rwanda to use the port of Dar es Salam for its international trade,” according to Makamba, who is now on a four-day working visit in Rwanda.
The port of Dar es Salaam handles over 80% of Rwanda’s cargo imports.
To facilitate the transportation of commodities between the two nations, Makamba stated that Tanzania would enhance the building of its road network, particularly the 92-kilometer stretch of route that runs from Rusabunga to Rusumo.
He said that consideration was being given to the non-harmonised levies problem brought up by truckers from Tanzania and Rwanda.
He called on the private sector in Rwanda to make use of land that has been provided to the country in Kwala and Isaka.
“We take this responsibility very seriously that the transport corridor from Dar es Salam has to work for Rwanda very effectively,” Makamba said.
Together, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi are building the Rusumo Hydropower Plant, which will generate 27 megawatts. The $340 million factory that was constructed on the borders of the three nations is almost finished.
“Through this important collaboration, both Rwanda and Tanzania will respectively add 27 megawatts to their national grid, starting later this year,” said Minister Biruta.
“Rwanda considers Tanzania as a good neighbour and a valued partner,” Biruta said, adding that the two countries share “deep historical, cultural and linguistic ties.”
In 2017, Kiswahili was included as Rwanda’s fourth official language.
“Rwanda also considers Tanzania as an important trade partner,” he said. “With direct access to the Indian Ocean, Tanzania is the place of transit of many goods in direction and departure from Rwanda.”
Biruta said: “It is our wish to continue maintaining our good neighbourly relations through the promotion of increased trade flows, with the hope to continue reaping the rewards of a mutually beneficial economic partnership. Beyond stimulating our economic growth, these trade ties also strengthen the fraternal bond linking our two nations.”
He added that among other things of common interest, he spoke about issues related to regional security.
Makamba started his tour on Tuesday by paying respects to the more than 250,000 Tutsi victims of the 1994 Genocide who are buried in the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
Additionally, he is anticipated to interact with students from various universities in Rwanda.