Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh held a meeting with H.E. Harerimana Fatou, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Pakistan, who called on the Federal Minister along with Mr. Kwibuka Esdras, First Secretary at the Rwanda High Commission in Pakistan, to discuss avenues for enhancing bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Rwanda.
Senior officials of the Board of Investment, including Director General Abdul Samie and Director Irfan Marwat, also attended the meeting along with other officials.
Welcoming the High Commissioner, Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh appreciated the close engagement of the Rwanda High Commission with the Government of Pakistan and the Board of Investment. He assured the Rwandan side that Pakistan attaches importance to strengthening economic relations with Rwanda and is committed to facilitating investors and businesses from both countries.
H.E. Harerimana Fatou thanked the Federal Minister for taking time from his busy schedule to meet with her and noted that she had already had the opportunity to visit the Minister on more than two occasions. She remarked that her repeated interactions with the Minister had made her feel at home in Pakistan.
The High Commissioner informed the Minister that the primary purpose of her visit was to extend a formal invitation to him to participate in the upcoming Rwanda–Pakistan Investment Forum, scheduled to be held from September 23–25, 2026, in Kigali, Rwanda. She said that following discussions with the Federal Minister for Commerce, the event had been termed an Investment Forum in view of the large-scale opportunities and the objective of engaging the private sector of both countries.
She highlighted Rwanda’s interest in engaging Pakistani businesses, particularly in sectors including pharmaceuticals, textiles and other areas where Pakistan possesses strong industrial and commercial capabilities. The Forum will provide an opportunity for government representatives, investors and private-sector stakeholders from both countries to interact directly, explore investment opportunities and establish business partnerships.
The Federal Minister inquired about the growth in bilateral relations and business engagement since the High Commissioner assumed her diplomatic responsibilities in Pakistan. In response, the High Commissioner stated that Rwanda–Pakistan business relations had witnessed growth of more than 55 percent, reflecting significant potential for further expansion.
The two sides also discussed the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the relevant institutions of Pakistan and Rwanda. Director General BOI Abdul Samie observed that an MoU could provide an institutional framework for future partnership and facilitate structured cooperation between the two sides. He noted that such an arrangement would also create opportunities for both countries to learn from each other, interact regularly and better understand their respective investment ecosystems.
The meeting also considered the possibility of exploring Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) arrangements in the future as part of efforts to strengthen the legal and institutional foundation for bilateral investment.
Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh and the High Commissioner agreed that it was important for Pakistan and Rwanda to develop a deeper understanding of each other’s economic requirements, investment priorities and available opportunities. They emphasized the need for both sides to identify areas where their respective economies could complement each other and generate mutual benefit.
The participants further discussed the importance of enhancing institutional interaction between the relevant investment promotion authorities of both countries. Director General Abdul Samie suggested that online meetings between the respective investment boards could serve as an initial step towards establishing regular institutional engagement, sharing experiences and identifying areas for practical cooperation.
During the discussion, the Rwandan High Commissioner highlighted Rwanda’s position as an important producer of coffee and tea and expressed interest in strengthening direct trade links with Pakistan. She noted that while Pakistan imports some tea directly from Rwanda, a significant portion of Rwandan tea reaches the Pakistani market through Kenya. She expressed her desire to promote direct import of Rwandan tea into Pakistan, eliminating unnecessary intermediaries and creating stronger commercial linkages between businesses of the two countries.
The High Commissioner informed the Minister that the Rwanda side was planning engagement with the tea industry in Karachi and that a Rwandan delegation was expected to visit Pakistan in October 2026 for direct interaction with relevant business stakeholders.
She also explained some of the logistical challenges associated with Rwanda’s status as a landlocked country, with trade routes relying significantly on neighboring countries, particularly Kenya, for access to seaports. The Rwandan side also highlighted challenges related to payment transfers through banking channels and the involvement of intermediaries in bilateral trade.
Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh assured the High Commissioner of the Board of Investment’s full support in addressing such challenges and facilitating direct business-to-business engagement. He said that relevant chambers of commerce, business associations and private-sector stakeholders could be engaged to explore practical solutions and develop sustainable trade and investment linkages.
The Federal Minister observed that Africa represents a major and largely untapped market for Pakistani businesses, offering significant opportunities for expansion in manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, healthcare, engineering, sports goods and other sectors. He emphasized the importance of strengthening Pakistan’s commercial presence in African markets and building direct relationships with African investors and businesses.
The High Commissioner highlighted Rwanda’s interest in importing a range of Pakistani products, including rice, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, textiles and sports goods, and expressed confidence that increased direct engagement between the private sectors of both countries could significantly expand bilateral trade.
Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh assured the Rwandan delegation that the Board of Investment would remain committed to providing maximum facilitation for Rwandan investors and Pakistani businesses seeking opportunities in Rwanda. He emphasized that regular engagement between government institutions, chambers of commerce and the private sector would be instrumental in translating bilateral goodwill into concrete economic partnerships.
The Federal Minister also invited the High Commissioner to visit his constituency and offered to facilitate a visit to FAST National University in Chiniot, where opportunities for academic and institutional collaboration could also be explored. He suggested that future engagements could include discussions on student exchanges and other educational linkages, further broadening the scope of Pakistan–Rwanda cooperation beyond trade and investment.
The meeting concluded with a shared understanding that enhanced institutional coordination, direct private-sector engagement and regular interaction between the relevant authorities would help unlock the considerable potential for bilateral trade and investment between Pakistan and Rwanda.
Federal Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh reiterated that the Board of Investment would continue to extend all possible facilitation and support to strengthen Pakistan–Rwanda economic relations and promote mutually beneficial investment partnerships.
