Rwanda and Brazil have taken concrete steps to deepen bilateral trade and investment cooperation following the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in Kigali, marking a new phase in economic relations between the two countries.
The agreements were signed during the Rwanda–Brazil Economic Cooperation Forum, where the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (APEX-Brazil) formalised, a partnership aimed at strengthening institutional coordination and expanding private sector engagement. The MoU was signed by RDB Chief Executive Officer Jean-Guy Afrika and APEX-Brazil President Jorge Viana.
According to information released by RDB, the agreement establishes a structured framework for cooperation in key areas such as trade promotion, investment facilitation, business missions, and joint initiatives in priority sectors. The framework is designed to enhance collaboration between the two institutions, supporting increased commercial exchanges and stronger investment flows between Rwanda and Brazil.
In a parallel move to reinforce private sector participation, APEX-Brazil also signed an MoU with the Private Sector Federation of Rwanda (PSF), represented by its Chairman, Stephen Ruzibiza. This agreement focuses on creating new business opportunities by strengthening ties between Brazilian exporters and Rwanda’s private sector ecosystem.
Following the institutional signings, the Private Sector Federation of Rwanda organised business-to-business (B2B) engagements between Rwandan companies and a visiting Brazilian trade and investment delegation. In a social media update, PSF noted that the meetings were intended to enable direct interaction between businesses from both countries and lay the groundwork for future partnerships.
PSF indicated that it plans to leverage the MoU with APEX-Brazil to facilitate continued business matchmaking and commercial exchanges. These engagements are expected to play a key role in translating the broader cooperation framework into tangible trade and investment outcomes.
The MoUs come as Rwanda continues to position itself as a strategic gateway for trade and investment in East Africa, while Brazil seeks to expand its commercial footprint across African markets through institutional collaboration and stronger private sector linkages.