Exporting is one of the ways to expand your business and reduce your dependence on local market, improve your company performance, productivity and competitiveness.

There no rapid techniques to do it. Before you examine what market your business can export too, you need to ascertain think through the following:
 

1. Reasons for exporting : you need to ascertain that you have a good reason to export
2. Commitment
   
    
   •  Does your business have staff that can dedicate time to undertake this new activity? Do they have the skills, expertise and commitment?
   • Do you have an export business plan?  Or have you become an exporter by accident, after an internet enquiry?
3. Capability : Does your business have the funds to:

• spend on new marketing activities

• visit the market to meet distributors and/or consumers
• make product modifications or packaging changes
• Gain certification, pay insurance, and get protection for your intellectual property?

4. Capacity   

• Does anyone in your business have market development experience, negotiation skills or international marketing experience?  Will you need to recruit or hire a consultant?
• Does your business have the funds to increase stock holding, or to increase payment terms?
• Is your workforce casual or full time?

5. Competition

• Do you know who your competition is in the export market?  How many are there? What is their market share?  Why do customers buy their brand? Are they cheaper?
• What will they do if your product is launched in their market?

• Obtain phytosanitary certificate
• A phytosanitary certificate is an official document issued by the Rwanda Agriculture and Livestock Inspection and Certification Services (RALIS). It certifies that the plants or plant products covered by the certificate have been inspected according to appropriate procedures and are considered to be free from quarantine pests and that they are considered to conform with the current phytosanitary regulations of the importing country.
• Certificate of origin
• Certificate of origin refers to a document that attests in which country export goods have been obtained, produced, manufactured or processed. It is necessary to profit from trade agreements, such as existing arrangements with EAC, COMESA or EU countries; that grant to certain export products from Rwanda preferable market access.
• Full procedure for export of plants and plant products
• This procedure sequentially compiles the licenses, permits and clearance steps to be fulfilled by a registered business owner exporting plants and plant products for the first time out of Rwanda.

KABANYANA Peace

International & Regional Market Development Specialist

Tel: +250 788 524 472

Email: peace.kabanyana@naeb.gov.rw

MUKUNDE K. Eugenie

International & Regional Market Development Specialist

Tel: +250 788 871 586

Email:eugenie.mukunde@naeb.gov.rw

Rwanda is an open economy. It is important for Rwandan businesses to go beyond our borders, explore more opportunities and expand markets. The trade agreements which the Government has signed can help companies to export.

What is a trade agreement?

A trade agreement is an international agreement between two or more countries to reduce or remove trade barriers and bring close economic integration.

How does trade agreement help businesses?
 

• Trade agreement offers lower or zero tariff (tariff concession) on exports and imports of goods and components assigned under TA. This would make products more competitive, as compared to exports and imports from non- TA partners countries.
• Improve market access for various services
• Easy entry for investors