Those ambitions took centre stage this week in Islamabad, where the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), in collaboration with the High Commission of Rwanda in Pakistan, organized the inaugural Rwanda Coffee Festival 2026 from January 29 to 30.
Held at the Mövenpick Hotel, the two-day event provided a dedicated platform to showcase Rwanda's high-quality specialty coffee while strengthening bilateral trade relations.
Pakistan remains Rwanda's leading buyer of tea through the auction system, positioning it as a strategic partner for Kigali. With demand for specialty and premium coffee rising, driven by an expanding café culture and a younger consumer base, NAEB is seeking to position Rwandan coffee as a high-value product capable of attracting competitive prices and fostering long-term partnerships.
Speaking on the sidelines of the festival, NAEB Chief Executive Officer Claude Bizimana said Rwanda's participation was guided by clear objectives.
He explained that the festival offered an opportunity to market Rwandan coffee directly to the international market and to reconnect with companies previously engaged through trade platforms in Mombasa.
Bizimana added that NAEB also used the occasion to engage tea-processing factories, exploring possibilities for direct sourcing from Rwanda, which could help increase import volumes, boost production, and ultimately raise farmers' incomes.
'The Rwanda Coffee Festival was a success, attracting many participating companies and generating strong interest after visitors tasted our coffee. All of this aligns with the plan to increase agricultural exports, contribute more to the national economy, and improve farmers' livelihoods overall,' he noted.
The festival attracted a diverse audience, including business leaders, officials, and sector stakeholders from both countries.
A delegation of Rwandan coffee producers and exporters took part, alongside Bizimana and Rwanda's Minister of Trade and Industry, Prudence Sebahizi.
The event was officially launched with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Sebahizi together with Pakistan's Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, High Commissioner Harerimana Fatou, and Bizimana, symbolizing deepening cooperation between Kigali and Islamabad.
A major highlight of the event was the traditional coffee cupping session, where participants sampled Rwanda's signature coffee profiles, known for their floral notes, balanced acidity, and rich, complex aromas.
On the margins of the festival, Bizimana also held discussions with High Commissioner Harerimana Fatou on practical ways to enhance the visibility of Rwandan products and ease access to the Pakistani market.
The initiative forms part of Rwanda's long-term strategy to diversify export markets and position itself as a reliable source of high-quality agricultural products.
Having already established a strong presence in Pakistan's tea imports, Kigali now hopes to replicate that success with coffee, aiming to make Rwandan brews a familiar feature in Pakistani cups.
Karirima Aimable Ngarambe
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/rwanda-steps-up-push-into-pakistan-s-coffee-market
