Islamabad (HRNW)\u2013 The Rwanda High Commission in Pakistan successfully hosted the first-ever Rwanda Coffee Festival in Islamabad, promoting Rwanda\u2019s specialty Arabica coffee and strengthening trade, investment, and cultural cooperation between Rwanda and Pakistan.
\nThe session opened with welcome remarks by H.E HARERIMANA Fatou, Rwanda High Commissioner to Pakistan welcoming the delegates from Rwanda and all Participants to the Rwanda\u2019s coffee festival at the first time organized by Rwanda Embassy in Pakistan. She highlighted the importance of South-South cooperation and the introducing of Rwanda\u2019s Coffee in Pakistan.
\nH.E. Mr. Prudence Sebahizi, Minister of Trade and Industry of Rwanda, expressed gratitude to all attendees for their interest in Rwanda Coffee and praised Pakistan\u2019s warm hospitality. He emphasized Rwanda\u2019s business-friendly environment and its strategic position as a gateway to Africa, providing access to nearly 1.5 billion consumers. Minister Sebahizi also highlighted Rwanda\u2019s interest in importing Pakistani rice, textiles, and pharmaceutical products, noting the popularity and quality of Pakistani Basmati rice in Rwanda.
\nDescribing the Coffee Festival as a celebration of resilience and cultural pride, Minister Sebahizi underscored the importance of strengthening direct trade links, particularly in the coffee sector, through structured import-export supply chains. He encouraged Pakistani investors to explore opportunities in Rwanda\u2019s coffee industry and emphasized expanding cooperation across agriculture, mining, infrastructure, education, artificial intelligence, and health. He further noted the need to build on the Trade MoU signed last year to facilitate market access and deepen Pakistan\u2013Rwanda trade and investment cooperation.
\nThe festival was graced by Hon. Muhammad Junaid Anwar, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs of Pakistan, as Chief Guest. He emphasized the role of coffee diplomacy in strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing maritime connectivity, diversifying supply chains, and fostering long-term partnerships rooted in mutual respect and shared prosperity.
\nThe participant received the remarks addressed by Mr. Sardar Yasir Ilyas, National Coordinator to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Tourism, who highlighted the untapped tourism potential between Rwanda and Pakistan. He noted that initiatives such as the Rwanda Coffee Festival not only promote trade and investment but also foster cultural understanding and tourism cooperation between the two countries.
\nMr. Claude Bizimana, CEO of the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), presented on the policy-driven transformation of Rwanda\u2019s coffee sector and outlined direct trade opportunities for Pakistani businesses. He also state that \u201cWe are here for business\u201d
\nSenator Mushahid Hussain Sayed commended Rwanda\u2019s remarkable model of recovery and lauded the visionary leadership of President Paul Kagame, describing Rwanda as a global success story. He highlighted Rwanda\u2019s achievements in economic development, trade, and innovation, and stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral ties through collaboration in trade, investment, and knowledge exchange.
\nThe festival also featured a panel discussion with Rwandan coffee exporters and Pakistani importers, deliberating on market access, quality assurance, logistics, branding, and sustainable partnership models to expand the presence of Rwandan coffee in Pakistan.
\nThe Rwanda Coffee Festival 2026 was attended by a large and diverse audience, including diplomats, senior government officials, business leaders, investors, coffee professionals, media representatives, and members of civil society. The High Commission of the Republic of Rwanda expressed confidence that the festival would serve as a catalyst for sustainable commercial partnerships and further strengthen Rwanda\u2013Pakistan trade and cultural relations.<\/p>\n