Rwanda Moves to Break Into Pakistan’s Growing Coffee Market

01, Feb-2026 Mugisha R. John

Rwanda is positioning itself to expand agricultural exports to Pakistan by introducing Rwandan coffee to a market that already imports large volumes of the country’s tea, officials said.

Claude Bizimana, chief executive officer of the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), said the move builds on Rwanda’s long-standing tea trade with Pakistan, which is currently the largest buyer of Rwandan tea through international auctions. Rwanda now aims to tap into Pakistan’s expanding coffee consumption as part of its export diversification strategy.

To advance this goal, NAEB, in collaboration with the Rwandan Embassy in Pakistan, organized a two-day coffee exhibition on Jan. 29–30, 2026. The event was designed to showcase the quality and distinctiveness of Rwandan coffee while strengthening trade and investment links between the two countries.

Speaking to media, Bizimana said Pakistan presents a strategic opportunity for Rwanda’s coffee sector. “Pakistan is the leading buyer of Rwandan tea. We entered the coffee exhibition with two main objectives: to strengthen existing trade ties and to introduce our coffee to a market where consumption is increasing rapidly,” he said.

Beyond coffee promotion, NAEB is also seeking to engage Pakistani tea buyers to encourage them to purchase tea directly from Rwanda rather than sourcing it through the port of Mombasa, Kenya. Officials say this would improve efficiency and returns for Rwandan producers.

Bizimana said the exhibition drew strong interest from business representatives, with many visitors sampling Rwandan coffee and expressing interest in future partnerships. He added that increasing agricultural exports aligns with Rwanda’s broader economic development strategy, contributing to national growth and improving farmers’ incomes.

The exhibition was attended by senior government officials and private-sector representatives, including Rwanda’s ambassador to Pakistan, Fatou Harerimana; Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi; NAEB leadership; and traders from various sectors.

Coffee remains one of Rwanda’s most important export commodities. In 2025, coffee exports earned more than 216 billion Rwandan francs, up from over 129 billion francs in 2024. NAEB data show Rwanda exported 23,860 metric tons of coffee in 2025, compared with 17,142 metric tons the previous year, underscoring the sector’s rapid growth.