Shifting the dial: Using the AfCFTA to boost export growth and diversification in Rwanda

Project report 1 May 2025 Sustainable Growth and Trade

This report studies the implications of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for Rwanda, using an approach that accounts for the heterogeneity of the impact across products and firms. Rwanda has diversified its export bundle, with significant growth driven by gold exports and re-exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo, though progress has slowed in other areas. The AfCFTA offers a critical opportunity for Rwanda to enhance its international trade, potentially increasing exports with even greater gains if trade facilitation agreements are implemented.