Rwanda seeks to increase flower exports
With the international commodity prices dropping and the continued poor performance of the global economy, Rwanda’s traditional markets in Europe, China and America scaled down on imports, hurting the country’s export receipts.
The government and private sector players have over the past two years been working more closely to find ways of improving the country’s exports and reduce the import bill. There are so far many initiatives that are already in place to achieve this, export promotion and diversification.
Under the export diversification strategy, flower growing has been identified as one of the areas that can help the government achieve its target in a short time.
Already, the country’s flagship project, Gishari Flower Park in Rwamagana, could start flower exports early next year. NAEB’s Bella Flowers kicked off raising hopes that the sector could boost exports in 2017. Bloom Hills Rwanda, a Japanese flower export firm based in Musanze District, has also started flower exports. The sector earned $56 million during the first 10 months of 2016, according to NAEB statistics.
Read more at The New Times
