IDH facilitates Rwanda's first avocado export by sea freight

On 25 November 2022, Rwanda shipped it’s first container of avocados by sea.

Why is this a milestone worth celebrating?

Right now, all horticulture produced in Rwanda is shipped via airfreight due to the country being land locked. Airfreight is expensive and has a high carbon footprint. In order for Rwanda to be competitive in global horticulture markets, exporting needs to become more accessible. That’s where this seafreight trial comes in. If successful, it opens up entirely new opportunities for the country.

The pilot shipment is the result of a collaborative effort between the Rwandan government and partners, which include IDH, Flying Swans, and avocado exporters, as part of the “Investing in Horticultural Development in Rwanda” project (HortInvest), which is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Rwanda to further develop Rwanda’s horticulture sector.

This article was published by The New Times on November 27, 2022. It is written by The New Times author: Michel Nkurunziza.