Rwanda has allocated a 10-hectare parcel of land to Egypt, situated near the border with Tanzania, for the establishment of a logistics zone. This was confirmed by a source on Tuesday, August 13. The land allocation is part of a broader transport agreement signed by Rwanda and Egypt on Monday, August 12, aimed at enhancing trade and connectivity between the two countries. In 2017, both nations committed to strengthening economic ties for the benefit of their citizens.
The signing ceremony was presided over by Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, following bilateral discussions in Kigali. Abdelatty led an Egyptian delegation attending President Kagame’s inauguration ceremony on Sunday, August 11.
Nduhungirehe emphasized that the logistics zone will be developed collaboratively with the Rwandan government to boost regional trade and economic cooperation. The logistics hub will be strategically located near the Rusumo border in Kirehe District, facilitating easier access for Egyptian businesses to the Rwandan market.
For background, Egypt has been planning to establish a logistics corridor that connects Tanzania and Rwanda, with the goal of facilitating the transport of Egyptian goods into Africa. This corridor is designed to originate from Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port, traverse a logistics zone and dry port, and then proceed to another logistics zone and dry port in Rwanda.
It is currently unclear if the newly designated land in Rwanda will be part of this corridor, potentially serving as a crucial link for Egypt to the larger East African market.
Minister Nduhungirehe highlighted the strong bilateral ties between Rwanda and Egypt, pointing out existing collaborations in areas such as culture, education, health, technology, and sports. He also underscored the importance of enhancing investment and trade between the two countries, noting the signing of several agreements in various sectors.
According to data from the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics (UN COMTRADE) database, Egypt’s exports to Rwanda reached $67.32 million in 2023, while imports from Rwanda to Egypt totaled just over $437,000.
The Egyptian minister expressed appreciation for Rwanda’s decision to allocate land, stating that this action will greatly enhance the visibility and availability of Egyptian products in the Rwandan market.
Although Nduhungirehe did not provide detailed information, he confirmed that Egypt has reciprocated the gesture by promising Rwanda a similar plot of land.
On August 12, Rwanda and Egypt signed a Memorandum of Understanding to supply medical equipment and devices for the MY Rwanda-Egypt Heart Care Centre, an advanced facility currently under construction in Kigali’s developing medical hub in Masaka, Kicukiro District.
The officials also reviewed the progress of the $20 million project, which aims to become a central hub for healthcare services in the central and eastern African regions. The partnership between Rwanda and Egypt on the heart center began in 2018, with assistance from the world-renowned Egyptian cardiothoracic surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub, a leading figure in heart care.
Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s enthusiasm to help establish the African Medicines Agency and leverage its pharmaceutical industry expertise to support its operations. According to officials, the center will be the first dedicated cardiac hospital in both Rwanda and the sub-Saharan Africa region.
