Report : Tazeen Akhtar | Camera : Raja Ghulam Farid
Pakistan is finally moving forward to the implementation of what we have been hearing and reading , The Look Africa and Engage Africa, now after a gap of 8 years after the policies were devised and 18 years after any high-level visit to the continent of today. Pakistan Africa Economic Council PAEC and High Commission of Rwanda have joined hands to actualize the above mentioned policies on the ground and in reality.
Here it is worth mentioning that the last high level visit to Africa from Pakistan was 17 years ago and after that Pakistan lost the most welcoming and the most promising market of 54 countries and 1.5 billion population. Now the PAEC and Rwanda H.C has chalked out a well thought and worked plan to engage Africa starting from Rwanda and the first step is Rwanda Pakistan Investment Conference that is taking place in the most clean and green capital in Africa , Kigali from 23 to 25 Sep.
H.E. Harerimana Fatou, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Pakistan and Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan, Patron In Chief, Pakistan Africa Economic Council shared the details in a joint press conference. They announced the upcoming visit of a Pakistani business delegation to Kigali.Dr Robina Awan, focal person for the Prime Minister Youth program was also present at the occasion.
The delegation comprises representatives of Pakistan’s business and investment community and will engage with Rwandan government institutions, business leaders, investors and private-sector representatives to explore opportunities for trade, investment, joint ventures and business partnerships.
A key milestone of the visit will be the signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement between Rwanda and Pakistan, marking an important step towards strengthening the institutional framework for bilateral trade.
High Commissioner said the Investment Forum represents a broader effort to transform Rwanda-Pakistan relations into a stronger partnership in trade, investment, technology, manufacturing and business-to-business cooperation. The Forum should be seen as a beginning, not an endpoint. It will provide a platform for serious business discussions and help identify concrete opportunities for cooperation, partnerships and agreements.
She highlighted Rwanda as a gateway to the wider African market, encouraging Pakistani companies to view Rwanda not only as a market but as a destination for investment, production, joint ventures and regional expansion. Rwanda offers Pakistani businesses an opportunity to establish themselves in an investment environment that places considerable emphasis on predictability, facilitation and access to regional markets.
” Rwanda Pakistan relationship is growing as a Pakistani business delegation will travel to Kigali for the Forum, in collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board. This Forum is not simply another business event. It is part of a broader effort to transform the relationship into a stronger partnership in trade, investment, technology, manufacturing and people-to-people economic cooperation, she added.
The High Commissioner while sharing the attractions for Pakistani businessmen said, investment in Rwanda can therefore provide a platform not only for the Rwandan market but for engagement with the wider East African market. The message we are taking to Pakistani businesses is straightforward: Do not look at Rwanda only as a market of approximately 14 million people. Look at Rwanda as a gateway to Africa, a much larger regional market for 1.4 billion.
H.E Harerimana Fatou said , “Our objective is clear: We need trade, investment, joint ventures, technology transfer and stronger business-to-business ties. The Rwanda High Commission, together with the Rwanda Development Board and our Pakistani partners, will continue facilitating these connections.”
” Rwanda welcomes Pakistani businesses across sectors, including textiles, construction, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, technology and entrepreneurship. We are ready to facilitate the conversation and turn opportunities into partnerships. The Government of the Republic of Rwanda welcomed the signing of the Bilateral trade Agreement in the margin of the investment Forum as a milestone to boost the trade and investment between our two countries. ”
Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan, Patron In Chief, Pakistan Africa Economic Council, described the Pakistan-Rwanda Investment Forum as an important initiative at a time when Africa, particularly East Africa and Rwanda, is emerging as a growing destination for global investment.
He highlighted Rwanda’s peace, stability, competitive operating environment, skilled workforce and investor-friendly policies, noting the opportunities these offer to Pakistani businesses. He said the participation of a 15–16-member Pakistani delegation from PAEC would help explore avenues for trade, investment and employment, including greater opportunities for Pakistan’s skilled youth.
Hamid Asghar Khan enlightened the intending business community on the potential and promises they can fined in Africa entering through Rwanda. He made clear that all the ingredients / incentives an investor may wish are available in Rwanda either it is land or energy prices and ownership of your businesses or taking your profit out of country are concerned.
He said , no country can promote its economy in isolation. Pakistan has great opportunities in Africa. He recalled his almost a decade of work on Africa being Ambassador of Pakistan and recently the head of African Desk at Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hamid shared that seeing the potential in Africa , he initiated the process of opening of Pakistani High Commission in Rwanda and contributed his vision and observations when Look Africa and Engage Africa Policies were finalized. He also recalled his meeting with the President of Rwanda in Rabat of Morocco where he served as Ambassador.
He mentioned Textile , Pharmaceutical, IT, Agriculture, Healthcare, Construction, Human Development keeping in mind the youth bulge at both sides as the major sectors with great potential to make the joint ventures win win for all.
He said, Rwanda produces the best cotton while Pakistan has the best manufacturing expertise. He shared that Burkina Faso, the neighboring country of Rwanda, has recently set up its first ever textile mills. Pakistan being once leader in textile can complement the cotton and textile requirements of Eastern Africa.
Rwanda High Commission has expressed confidence that the visit of the Pakistani business delegation will further strengthen business-to-business engagement and economic cooperation between Rwanda and Pakistan, while opening new avenues for investment and mutually beneficial partnerships.
High Commissioner shared important points with the press ;
1- We are now witnessing a new phase in our bilateral and multilateral relationship We want to move beyond a relationship in which goods simply move from one market to another. This is precisely why the upcoming Rwanda–Pakistan Investment Forum is important.
2- We want Pakistani companies to look at Rwanda as a destination for investment, production, joint ventures and regional expansion.
3- Rwanda is strategically positioned in the heart of East Africa and opened the free visa on arrival for more than 90% countries across the world.
4- Briefly look Africa for today not for Tomorrow. Through the Rwanda Development Board, investors have access to a One Stop Centre designed to facilitate registration, licensing, banking, permits and other procedures.
5- Rwanda offers many investment incentives like:
A- Preferential corporate income tax rate of 0% | B- Preferential corporate income tax rate of 3% | C- Preferential corporate income tax rate of 15% | D- Corporate income tax holiday of 7 years etc.
6- Rwanda has also developed a reputation for transparent regulation and an investment friendly environment that welcomes foreign participation. Foreign investors are not required to surrender ownership of their businesses to local partners as a general requirement. This provides international investors with significant flexibility in structuring their operations.
7- Our message is simple: Rwanda is not only offering incentives; it is creating an environment where investors can establish, operate and expand efficiently.
8- She thanked the Government of Pakistan, the Pakistani business community, the chambers of commerce and especially the introduction of the Pakistan Africa Economic Council to the Africa market, our media partners and all institutions that have supported the strengthening of Rwanda–Pakistan relations and the investment Forum.
9- We look forward to welcoming the Pakistani business delegation to Kigali from 23 to 26 September 2026. We believe this Forum will mark an important step towards a new chapter in Rwanda–Pakistan economic relations.
Background of Pakistan’s Africa Policy
Pakistan’s Look Africa and Engage Africa policies are strategic diplomatic and economic initiatives launched to expand trade, deepen political ties, and increase the country’s footprint across the African continent. The Look Africa Policy Initiative was launched in August 2017 by the Ministry of Commerce, this initiative focuses primarily on trade enhancement, market diversification, and boosting bilateral trade with African economies. Engage Africa Policy was jointly advanced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce following a 2019 Envoys’ Conference, this broader framework aims to build comprehensive political, security, educational, and economic partnerships.
Rwanda and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1962, and our relationship has continued to evolve. Pakistan opened its resident High Commission in Kigali in 2021, while Rwanda subsequently established its High Commission in Islamabad in June 2024.
East Africa includes 18 sovereign countries under the United Nations geographic definition, while the regional political and economic bloc known as the East African Community has 8 member states. UN member countries are Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, UgandaHorn / Greater Region / Adjacent: Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, ZimbabweIsland Nations: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles
The East African Community (EAC) integration goals are structured around 4 progressive pillars designed to create a unified and competitive economic and political bloc.
1- Customs Union (Established 2005) Eliminates internal tariffs on goods. Applies a common external tariff. Boosts intra-regional trade
2- Common Market (Established 2010) Ensures free movement of goods and services. Allows free movement of labor and capital. Guarantees rights of residence and establishment.
3- Monetary Union (Protocol signed 2013) Streamlines financial and supervisory systems. Aims to establish a single regional currency. Enhances macroeconomic stability
4- Political Federation (Ultimate Goal) Forms a supreme political authority and super-state. Uses a transitional Political Confederation framework. Unifies defense, foreign policy, and governance
