Republic of Rwanda

Bilateral relations

Brazil and Rwanda established diplomatic relations in 1981. The Embassy of Brazil in Nairobi (Kenya) is cumulatively  responsible for representing Brazilian interests before Rwandan authorities. The diplomatic mission of Rwanda in Washington (United States) is cumulatively responsible for overseeing the country’s relations with Brazil.

In 2007, Minister of Foreign Affairs Celso Amorim met with his Rwandan counterpart on the sidelines of the 62nd UN General Assembly. On the occasion, the Framework Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the two  countries was singed. In 2011, Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota met with Rwanda’s President Kagame in New York, on the sidelines of the UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS.

The history of Brazil-Rwanda bilateral cooperation includes activities in the energy (biofuels) and  agriculture (sugar cane) sectors. Today, the two countries have a trilateral cooperation program in food security. Rwanda has also benefited from  Brazilian humanitarian aid. In 2012, Brazil donated $100,000 to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for the support of refugees in Rwanda. In July 2020, Brazil offered resources to the Rwandan government through the World Food Programme (WFP) to help that country in the fight against the new coronavirus pandemic.

Bilateral trade

In 2019, trade exchange, based almost entirely on Brazilian exports, totaled nearly $550,000. The main Brazilian exports are mechanical and electrical machinery, vehicles, paper and plastic items, and sugars. In respect of Brazilian investments, a Brazil-Argentina binational computer company is present in Rwanda

Chronology of bilateral relations