Botswana, Rwanda seek to revitalise bilateral trade
Pauline Dikuelo | Wednesday May 13, 2026 06:00
It is said that bilateral trade between Gaborone and Kigali has declined significantly over the past five years, prompting renewed efforts by both nations to strengthen economic cooperation and unlock new trade and investment opportunities. However, despite the downturn in trade volumes, the relationship between Botswana and Rwanda continues to be anchored in strong diplomatic and economic ties spanning multiple sectors. Currently, cooperation between the two covers areas such as defence and security, health, education, tourism, agriculture, trade, and investment. This broad collaboration reflects what both governments describe as a shared vision for economic prosperity and sustainable development.
Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Tiroeaone Ntsima, noted that the decline in trade highlights the urgent need for deliberate and coordinated interventions aimed at unlocking and maximising the economic potential between the two nations. As a result, he highlighted that particular attention should be directed towards sectors with significant growth potential, including tourism, information and communication technology (ICT), financial services, manufacturing, and agribusiness. “In recent years, Botswana and Rwanda have undertaken market scoping and exchange initiatives to better understand existing opportunities for trade and investment,” Ntsima said at last week’s Botswana-Rwanda Business Forum. These initiatives consistently revealed relatively low levels of trade between the two countries, while also providing valuable insights into investment opportunities, regulatory systems, and policy frameworks that could help improve the ease of doing business and encourage stronger economic cooperation, he noted.
Ntsima further commended Rwanda for its remarkable economic progress, describing the country as a model for growth and development on the African continent. “Rwanda’s success is underpinned by strong principles of cooperation, ambition, and accountability, which continue to drive sustainable economic transformation,” he added. The minister stressed that practical collaboration between businesses and institutions is essential in translating policy ambitions into tangible economic outcomes that can benefit citizens and industries in both countries. Ntsima reaffirmed Botswana’s commitment to attracting foreign direct investment and diversifying its economy beyond its traditional dependence on diamonds. He said the government continues to implement reforms designed to improve the ease of doing business and create a more competitive and investor-friendly environment.
He also highlighted the important role played by institutions such as the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre and the Rwanda Development Board in facilitating trade, investment flows, and cross-border collaboration. According to the minister, the partnership between the two institutions remains central to advancing the shared objective of economic growth, regional integration, and long-term prosperity for both Botswana and Rwanda. The Botswana-Rwanda Business Forum was organised with the primary objective of identifying and unlocking new opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries. It also aimed to encourage joint ventures and strategic partnerships through structured business-to-business (B2B) engagements.