Rwanda has been recognised for its leadership in advancing intra-African trade at the inaugural Africa Trade Awards, the closing highlight of the two-day Africa Trade Summit 2026 held in Ghana. 

High Commissioner Rosemary Mbabazi, on behalf of the Government of Rwanda, received the Intra-African Trade Systems Champion Award, which acknowledges Rwanda’s comprehensive end-to-end trade facilitation system that has significantly eased the cost and time of doing business.

The Summit, hosted by the Government of Ghana under the theme “Financing Africa’s Industrialisation: Developing Industrial Value Chains, Beneficiation, and Market Integration,” convened government and business leaders from across the continent to deliberate on practical pathways to accelerate Africa’s industrialisation and deepen regional market integration.

The award recognises Rwanda’s sustained reforms across trade policy, digital customs, logistics, and cross-border coordination, which have strengthened efficiency, transparency, and predictability in trade processes. 

These efforts align with continental priorities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and underscore Rwanda’s commitment to fostering competitive value chains and facilitating seamless trade within Africa.

The Summit was attended by H.E. John Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, and H.E. Carlos Manuel Vila Nova, President of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, among other dignitaries and private-sector leaders.