• Kigali in talks with Qatar Airways Cargo to expand air freight options

• Fruit exports face losses from delays, limited capacity, and high costs

• Government aims to nearly double farm export earnings by 2029

Rwanda is exploring ways to strengthen air cargo services for its agricultural exports through deeper cooperation with Qatar Airways Cargo, according to local newspaper The New Times. The initiative was discussed during a meeting involving Agriculture Minister Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, RwandAir CEO Yvonne Makolo, and Qatar Airways Chief Cargo Officer Mark Drusch.

The talks focused on easing pressure on Rwanda’s fruit export sector, which has been struggling with shrinking profit margins caused by post-harvest losses and long shipping times to key markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Authorities cite limited cargo capacity and high freight costs as major obstacles for exporters.

As a landlocked country, Rwanda relies heavily on air transport to move its goods abroad. National carrier RwandAir remains the main operator in this space but has limited reach, operating only one dedicated freighter with a 23-ton capacity. Partnering with Qatar Airways would allow access to a broader cargo network and wider export markets.

Fruit exports are among Rwanda’s main sources of agricultural revenue, alongside coffee, tea, and pyrethrum. Data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) show that fruit exports generated around $37.4 million in 2024.

Under its Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA 5) covering 2024–2029, Rwanda aims to increase agricultural export earnings from $839 million in 2023/24 to more than $1.5 billion by 2028/29, representing a 78.7% rise.