Rwanda Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in rwanda, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Select Country Guide
Distribution & Sales Channels
Last published date:

Using a local agent who speaks the national languages (Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili) can help with licensing, locating warehouse space, hiring staff, and other administrative start-up tasks. Using an agent or distributor is not legally required in Rwanda.

In general, finding a reliable agent or distributor requires a visit to meet with local businesspeople. Through a Contact List, Gold Key Service (GKS), or International Partner Search (IPS), the U.S. Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Section can assist U.S. firms interested in a relationship with local partners.  For more information on these services, please visit the U.S Department of Commerce website or contact the U.S. Embassy Economic and Commercial Section at (+250) 252-596-400 or KigaliEcon@state.gov.

When interviewing potential agents, key criteria include contacts with the appropriate labor market, ability to secure warehouse space, knowledge of local competition, previous work experience, and proven ability to work with government officials and U.S. businesses. When interviewing distributors, key considerations include the distributor’s sales records, sales territory, sales force, product mix, facilities, marketing policies, and customer profile.

Establishing an Office

RDB provides an efficient business registration service along with potential tax incentives for investors in priority sectors. However, following Rwanda’s VAT reforms under Law No. 009/2025 and strengthened fiscal policies, investors must obtain separate, written approval from the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) to ensure enforceability of tax incentives. Rwanda reintroduced VAT on mobile phones and ICT equipment in 2025, which had been previously exempt since 2010 and 2012. This reform aims to expand the tax base but may impact digital adoption among low-income segments.  RDB itself does not guarantee enforceability of incentives without RRA’s explicit confirmation.

Priority sectors include exports; manufacturing; energy generation, transmission and distribution; information and communication technologies, business process outsourcing and financial services; mining activities relating to mineral exploration; transport, logistics and electric mobility; construction or operations of specialized innovation parks or specialized industrial parks; affordable housing; tourism that includes hotels, adventure tourism and agro-tourism; horticulture and cultivation of other high-value plants; creative arts in the subsector of the film industry; and skills development in areas where the country has limited skills and capacity. 

RDB offers one of the fastest business registration processes in Africa. New investors can register online at the RDB’s website and receive a registration certificate in person in as little as six hours at RDB’s Office of the Registrar General.  RDB’s One Stop Centre helps foreign investors secure required approvals, certificates, and work permits to start their businesses. In March 2023, the Government of Rwanda announced plans to expand the One Stop Centre to offer at least 23 licensing services. The expanded center helps reduce the time and number of visits investors had to make to different institutions for licensing. Investors should be aware RDB often is unable to enforce tax incentives it has offered – even when in contracts and formal legal agreements – and all such incentives should be reviewed and approved separately by the RRA in writing to improve enforceability.  

Investors benefit from streamlined immigration and employment regulations. Work and residence permit applications for expatriate and third‑country staff are now processed digitally through the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, with faster turnaround times. Rwanda’s 2025 foreign exchange and labor reforms focus on improving compliance and reducing administrative bottlenecks rather than tightening access.

For the latest Investment Climate Statement (ICS) which includes information on investment and business environments in foreign economies pertinent to establishing and operating an office and to hiring employees, see the U.S. Department of State’s Investment Climate Statements.

Franchising

Franchising is uncommon in Rwanda, although KFC, FedEx, UPS, MoneyGram, DHL, Western Union, TransUnion, and Jibu Water have established franchise operations in country. Rwanda’s franchising regulations focus on contract law, trademark protection, and fair trade, with mandatory registration of franchise agreements under the Companies Act (Law No. 007/2021 of 05 February 2021, as amended by Law No. 019/2023). The Rwanda Development Board provides facilitation for franchisors and franchisees.  Key compliance areas include disclosure to franchisees, trademark registration, and adherence to local business practices.

Direct Marketing

Marketing is conducted primarily through word-of-mouth, radio, mobile phone ads, printed journals, and outdoor campaigns. The internet, social media, and mobile phones are particularly important marketing tools.  The Rwandan postal system is insufficiently developed to support large-scale direct marketing.

Joint Ventures/Licensing

The government encourages joint ventures with foreign firms, particularly in sectors requiring expertise not available in Rwanda. Investment conferences and trade missions seeking partners are carried out by RDB, the Private Sector Federation, chambers of commerce, and individual businesses seeking foreign partners in Asia, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Over the past three years, the Rwandan government has continued to pursue public-private partnerships (PPPs), particularly in the renewable energy and infrastructure sectors. The Rwandan government created a number of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to facilitate PPPs and joint ventures with foreign investors.

Express Delivery

Rwanda’s express delivery industry is a nascent and growing sector as e-commerce and online marketplaces continue to grow in importance. FedEx, DHL, and UPS operate in the country through franchisees.  Express shipment charges to Rwanda remain relatively high. Rates range from $80 to $120 per kilogram to ship products from the United States to Rwanda within 5-10 business days. Recent customs reforms under Rwanda’s 2025/2026 budget rescinded many exemptions rather than expanding them. Full duty exemptions were retained mainly for electric and hybrid vehicles, wheat, certain public transport vehicles, and raw materials for manufacturing, with other tariffs adjusted upwards on lower-priority imports. While these changes have enhanced customs efficiency and supported e‑commerce growth, express shipments may still face occasional delays related to documentation checks or new regulatory adjustments. Updated tariff structures and environmental levies can also modestly influence delivery timelines and costs for businesses and consumers. To get an online quote for FedEx, DHL, and UPS, visit the IPS parcel website.

Customs procedures remain important to express delivery providers offering guaranteed delivery times. With recent modernization and automation under the Electronic Single Window, most shipments clear efficiently, though occasional documentation or inspection checks can affect speed. Such cases may temporarily influence delivery timelines and costs, but overall customs processing is significantly faster and more predictable than in previous years.

Due Diligence

U.S. companies should perform due diligence on potential local partners, distributors, or agents prior to any proposed business deals. The U.S. Commercial Service can provide valuable background information on Rwandan firms through the International Company Profile (ICP) service. Further information can be obtained by visiting export.gov or by contacting your local U.S. Export Assistance Center (see contact numbers at the end of this guide). A list of local attorneys and consultancy firms can be found at the U.S Embassy’s website.  

Disclaimer: This list is not comprehensive, and inclusion does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. government.

For U.S. Businesses

  • Export Solutions
  • Research Center
  • Regulations & Agreements
  • Resolve a Trade Problem
  • Attend an Event
  • News & Highlights
  • Let Our Experts Help

BuyUSA

Find a Supplier - Textiles & Apparel

Invest in the U.S.

  • Make Connections
  • Our Programs
  • Research Center
  • Let Our Experts Help
  • Additional Resources

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility