Islamabad (National Times) Rwanda and Pakistan agreed to strengthen bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation as the Rwanda High Commission in Pakistan successfully hosted the first-ever Rwanda Coffee Festival in Islamabad, showcasing Rwanda’s premium Arabica coffee and promoting deeper commercial and cultural engagement between the two countries.
The event opened with welcome remarks by H.E. Ms. Harerimana Fatou, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, who warmly welcomed Rwandan delegates and participants. She highlighted the significance of South–South cooperation and described the festival as an important milestone in introducing Rwanda’s renowned coffee to the Pakistani market for the first time.
H.E. Mr. Prudence Sebahizi, Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, thanked participants for their interest in Rwanda coffee and appreciated Pakistan’s hospitality. He emphasized Rwanda’s business-friendly environment and its strategic role as a gateway to Africa, offering access to nearly 1.5 billion consumers. The Minister expressed Rwanda’s interest in importing Pakistani rice, textiles, and pharmaceutical products, noting the strong demand and popularity of Pakistani Basmati rice in Rwanda.
Describing the Coffee Festival as a celebration of resilience and cultural pride, Minister Sebahizi stressed the need to strengthen direct trade links through structured import-export supply chains, particularly in the coffee sector. He invited Pakistani investors to explore opportunities in Rwanda’s coffee industry and underscored expanding cooperation in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, education, artificial intelligence, and health. He also called for effective implementation of the Trade MoU signed last year to enhance market access and deepen bilateral economic ties.
The festival was graced by Hon. Muhammad Junaid Anwar, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs of Pakistan, as Chief Guest. He highlighted the role of coffee diplomacy in strengthening bilateral relations, improving maritime connectivity, diversifying supply chains, and fostering long-term partnerships based on mutual respect and shared prosperity.
Participants also heard remarks from Mr. Sardar Yasir Ilyas, National Coordinator to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Tourism, who emphasized the untapped tourism potential between Rwanda and Pakistan. He noted that initiatives such as the Rwanda Coffee Festival promote not only trade and investment but also cultural understanding and tourism cooperation.
Mr. Claude Bizimana, CEO of Rwanda’s National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), presented insights into the policy-driven transformation of Rwanda’s coffee sector and outlined direct trade opportunities for Pakistani businesses, stating, “We are here for business.”
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed commended Rwanda’s remarkable recovery and praised the visionary leadership of President Paul Kagame, describing Rwanda as a global success story in economic development, trade, and innovation. He stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral relations through collaboration in trade, investment, and knowledge exchange.
The festival also featured a panel discussion involving Rwandan coffee exporters and Pakistani importers, focusing on market access, quality assurance, logistics, branding, and sustainable partnership models to expand the footprint of Rwandan coffee in Pakistan.
The Rwanda Coffee Festival 2026 attracted a large and diverse audience, including diplomats, senior government officials, business leaders, investors, coffee professionals, media representatives, and civil society members. The Rwanda High Commission expressed confidence that the festival would serve as a catalyst for sustainable commercial partnerships and further strengthen Rwanda–Pakistan trade and cultural relations.