Pakistan and Rwanda reaffirmed their commitment on Monday to improve bilateral cooperation in several sectors, including trade, defense, technology and diplomacy.
The commitment followed a meeting at the delegation between the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Ishaq Dar and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Rwanda, Ambassador Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe. Rwandan Foreign Minister was during his first official visit to Pakistan from April 21 to 22.
During their discussions, the two parties expressed their satisfaction with the progress of bilateral relations and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the field of diplomatic training. The ministers highlighted the potential for additional collaboration in priority areas such as trade, investment, defense, diplomacy and people’s exchanges.
Dar Vice-Prime Minister stressed the importance that Pakistan attaches to its relationship with Rwanda, noting that Pakistan established its High Commission in Kigali in 2021 and that the inauguration of the High Commissioner of Rwanda in Islamabad was expected during the current visit.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan was a key importer in Rwandan tea and explored increased imports of other products, including coffee, lawyers, legumes and horticultural products. He also noted the potential of Pakistan to extend his exports to Rwanda in pharmaceutical products, textiles, rice, surgical instruments, agro-technical and sporting equipment.
Stressing the digital sector, FM DAR said that Pakistan was interested in associating with Rwanda in fields such as technological platforms focused on electronic governance, fintech, digital innovation and young people. He welcomed Rwanda’s participation in the next Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference and a single country exhibition in Addis Ababa in May 2025.
The two ministers recognized the importance of high -level exchanges and collaboration in multilateral forums, with mutual support for candidates for the United Nations and other international organizations.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nduhungirehe, noted that the signing of the memorandum of understanding was part of wider efforts to deepen cooperation, with additional studies under study. He said that his delegation, which included representatives from Rwanda, the Development Council and the Ministry of Trade, reflected the interest of Rwanda in the expansion of trade links with Pakistan.
Rwanda exports to Pakistan are currently amounting to around $ 26 million, while Pakistan exports to Rwanda total around $ 100 million, the Rwandan Minister for Foreign Affairs. He expressed his interest in exploring joint projects in sectors such as education, health, trade and defense.
Nduhungirehe also underlined the collaboration potential in tourism and sports, including cricket, which is widely followed in the two countries. He congratulated Pakistan’s contributions to peacekeeping and the resolution of UN conflicts in Africa, in particular in the context of the current non -permanent siege in Pakistan to the United Nations Security Council.
He reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to current peace efforts in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and expressed his hope for progress in the coming months.
