(introduction...)
Rwanda has been an aid dependent country for years now. The
Rwandan economy has to contend with some fundamental and structural problems.
Moreover, landlocked countries such as Rwanda require a regional perspective for
their developmental plans. While this is recognised by most of the international
and regional actors involved in Rwanda's aid programmes, not much progress has
been made due to civil strife and political instability in the region.
Nevertheless, some concrete regional actions have already been taken place and
should be enforced20.
20The World Bank will finance the
reconstruction of the central corridor which connects Rwanda to the Indian Ocean
from Isaka (Tanzania) to Dar es Salaam. WFP will continue to fund the northern
corridor to Mombassa. Further, Rwanda will in me future probably become part of
the East African Economic Union. This means tariff barriers for regional trade
will be standardised. As regional trade is not enough to assure absorption
markets, non regional trade will be an important issue to discuss as well within
the WTO as for example with Europe within the framework of the Lomonventions.
A long-term strategy for the Rwandan economy is the subject of
ongoing discussions. However, some directions are already clear for further
development.
