After celebrating Rwanda’s biggest trade fair, the 12th Rwanda International Trade Fair (RITF), the world’s biggest Expo is just around the corner. It will open on Saturday, May 01, 2010 in Shanghai, China’s capital and will be on for six solid months until Sunday, October 31, 2010. As soccer diehards fly to South Africa to watch their national teams at the World Cup, businessmen will be taking the opposite direction to China for Shanghai 2010 World Expo.

Like the FIFA world cup, after every five years the biggest world expo is organised and rotates in the renowned big economies of the world. The last world expo was held in 2005 in Nagoya-Japan, which came after the Hanover (German) world expo in 2000. Rwanda participated in both expos.
 The theme for the Shanghai 2010 is: “Better city Better life”. The expo is an opportunity for countries to promote themselves to the rest of the world. Countries, developed and developing, and international organisations will be in Shangai to promote their cultures, economies and programmes. Rwanda, a country that was reduced to ruins during the 1994 Tutsi Genocide, perhaps needs this opportunity more than any other country that will be participating at Shangai 2010 World Expo. The world still carries the negative genocidal thinking about Rwanda, yet now 15 years on the country has moved on and has registered tremendous socio-economic
reforms.
 When this 12th RITF ends on Monday, August 10, 2009, the country will not go to rest. Preparations of Rwanda’s participation at Shanghai 2010 shall be even more accelerated, according to Mr Ephrem Karangwa, the Coordinator of National Steering Committee of Shanghai 2010. He is also the Fairs and Promotions Manager at Private Sector Federation (PSF).
 In an exclusive interview, he gave a comprehensive update about the World Expo preparations—which he says have been going on concurrently with the Rwanda Expo 2009.
 Following Rwanda’s participation confirmation in November last year, Mr. Emmanuel Hategeka the CEO of Private Sector Federation was appointed the Commissioner General of Rwanda at Shanghai, at the recommendation of the Rwanda Foreign Affairs Ministry. Mr Hategeka also doubles as the Chairman of the National World Expo Steering Committee. The national steering committee is comprised of representatives of key institutions, including; Private Sector Federation (PSF).
Rwanda, Ministry of Trade and Industry (Minicom), Finance Ministry (Minecofin), Foreign Affairs Ministry (Minaffet), Sports and Culture Ministry (Mijespoc), Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Rwanda Tea Authority (OCIR The), Rwanda Coffee Authority (OCIR CAFÉ) and Kigali City Council (MVK).

It is confirmed that the African Union (AU) and all African countries including Rwanda have signed the participation contract. Each participating developing country is entitled to US$650, 000 (about Frw358million) meant to facilitate in organising participation. This is what the steering committee uses to procure all logistical requirements.

The Magnificent Rwandan Pavilion

The Shanghai 2010 exhibition ground covers a large surface area. Each participating country is allocated exhibition space totaling to 324 square metres. Rwanda acquired a very strategic location in the exhibition ground, Mr Ephrem can confirm. A total of 250 square meters will accommodate the Rwandan pavilion.

Mr. Karangwa explains that the pavilion has the following key areas; a beautiful Reception Area which is designed in traditional (Rwandan) artifacts, an Information Display Area where all print promotional materials will be displayed, a VIP Wing which is a nicely decorated Rwandan traditional hut where all sorts of VIPs visiting the stand will be hosted, and an Office area where all exhibition operations will be carried out.

At the pavilion, Rwanda will promote, among other things; investment opportunities across all sectors. Space is also reserved to display major export commodities such as coffee, tea, hides and skins, minerals and handicraft. There’s also space reserved and equipped with facilities to test – or taste – these commodities. A giant LCD screen will be mounted on the wall within the stand which will show electronic information on DVDs and VCDs. The communications taskforce is doing all it can to compile as much information as possible to exhibit within the six months. Information shall come from selected institutions, and these are; PSF, Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Ministry of Culture, Kigali City Council.

The Chinese economic growth is one of the highest in the world; estimated at about 9.6% (2008 est.) Her GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is equally high, estimated at about US$11 trillion (2008 est.). China, reportedly, has two-thirds (about 1.3billion people) of world’s total population and her per capita income is about US$1, 740 (2007 est.). The Chinese market is the cheapest in the whole world because of the immense subsidies the Chinese government extends to its industrial sector. Thus, many businessmen would be attracted to participate. The Chinese government has offered to sponsor freight costs for one 40ft container of products from each participating country. Mr. Ephrem says this container will strictly take commodities to exhibit in the Rwandan pavilion. For traders who wish to export or import separate private arrangements are in place.

Important to note also, during the six months of exhibition each country shall have its “National Day” when all other participating countries will join that country to celebrate. Mr Karangwa says a proposal has been forwarded to the Department in Charge of National Events at Shanghai to consider 4th July 2010; Liberation day in Rwanda, as the Rwanda Day at Shangai 2010. He says the Rwandan Embassy in China in collaboration with the Organising Committee shall ensure that there are lots of cultural performances on that day.

GENERAL UPDATE

• By end of February 2009, 231 countries and International Organisations had confirmed their participation in Shanghai Expo 2010
• So far 185 countries and international organisations including Rwanda have signed their participation contracts.
  

• Rwanda confirmed her participation to Shanghai
• Expo on 12th September 2006
• Rwanda appointed Mr. Emmanuel HATEGEKA, PSF Chief Executive Officer as the Commissioner General.
• Rwanda negotiated a covered prime space of 324 M² in the African Joint Pavilion and the hand over of this space will be done before 1st November 2009
• A National Steering Committee in charge of all preparations related to Rwanda’s participation to Shanghai Expo was put in place. Members of the committee were appointed from; PSF, MINICOM, MINECOFIN, MINISPOC, MINAFFET, RDB, MVK, OCIR THE, OCIR CAFÉ, ORINFOR.
• Rwanda has submitted her theme statement which is: "Kigali City, Heart of Rwanda’s Economic Prosperity of a nation reborn”. The theme statement was approved by the Bureau of Shanghai Expo Coordination.
• Rwanda undertook technical consultation with the organiser which ended with the signature of the participation contract on 13th November 2008.
• Rwanda signed a financial assistance agreement equivalent to $650.000. The agreement was signed on 11th December 2008.