“Rwanda’s fruits and vegetables continue to conquer new international markets. The Rwandan exporter Kengne Empire will ship its products for the first time to the United Kingdom, Spain and Belgium during the first quarter of 2023, after having already entered the market in Germany and France.
Mr. Kengne Timo, general manager of Kengne Empire, is not shy about his ambitions: “Our goal is to bring Rwandan fresh products to the plate of every consumer who wants to consume healthy products”. The company exports mainly Habanero peppers, but also Bird Eye peppers, okra, white eggplant, as well as exotic fruits such as avocado and passion fruit. According to Kengne, export volumes have more than tripled, due to the engagement of new producers and the introduction of new markets.
The success of Rwandan production is due, according to Kengne, to the very competitive prices for high quality products, as well as consistent supply. “You just have to tell the customers that the product comes from Rwanda for them to be convinced. Rwandan exporters have established the brand image of the quality of Rwandan fresh produce and the reliability of the people behind it.”
But the real substance of this achievement, adds Mr. Kengne, is the ambitious vision that underlies it: “I am a young entrepreneur with a passion for business and making the world greener, that is what drives me every day,” as well as a national ambition. “With the help of the Rwandan government, we managed to overcome the difficulties we had during the pandemic and the rising costs of energy.””
*This article is excerpted from freshplaza.com website, published on 15th December 2022