Airline freight charge cuts could lift Rwandan hort exports

Rwanda has over the last few years intensified efforts geared at increasing exports, particularly for non-traditional trade products like flowers, vegetables and fruits. These efforts have, however, been met with various challenges including high fees for transporting cargo charged by airlines and other logistical issues such as the lack of cold facilities along the value chain.

These issues could soon be history following an initiative by the National Agricultural Export Board (NAEB) and some airlines, which will see fares slashed by almost half, according to Epimaque Nsanzabaganwa, the NAEB horticulture division manager.

Exporters will now pay $1.5 (about Rwf1,260) per kilogramme from about $2.7 (about Rwf2,260) per kilo, which is a reduction of $1.2 (about Rwf1,008) per kilogramme.

In an exclusive interview with Business Times, Nsanzabaganwa said the export body was engaging airliners with a view to providing price waivers to sector exporters.

The official is optimistic that the initiative is essential if the country is to increase horticulture and other agro-exports, besides encouraging more businesses to engage in export trade and helping make the sector profitable and sustainable.

source: allafrica.com

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