Minerals lead exports with 35% share in Revenues
Rwanda encountered a significant growth in its exports rising from USD 75m reaching to a peak USD 202m in 2007. This is partly due to the emergence of the minerals which were nonexistent in 2002, started to be exported in 2003 producing USD 12m then steadily increased in 2004 through to 2007 to become the most lucrative export with USD 71m of revenues.
Rwanda’s trade in EAC doubles
Rwanda’s total trade with EAC partner states more than doubled between 2006 and 2010, the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) said yesterday. It rose from $278 to 600 million, signifying the country’s impact as a net importer in the EAC region.
Rwanda services sector boosts GDP
During the recession, financial institutions almost stopped lending, receipts from exports reduced, donors scaled down funding some of the projects and investments were postponed. As a result the GDP was affected slowing down economic development.
Inflation drops further
Rwanda’s year on year inflation rate eased further to -6.52 percent last month from -5 .38 percent in November, on account of a decrease in food and non-alcoholic prices, which constitute the majority of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
According to statistics released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), the food and non-alcoholic beverages index dropped by 12.21 percent in December as prices of bread and cereals eased by 14.03 percent and vegetable prices fell by 17.15 per cent.
Crimes drop by 1.2 percent
The 2010 crime report, released by the Police, shows that the crime rate has dropped by 1.2 percent compared to the previous year. Kigali City has for the second year running, topped the crime list with 3,730 out of 1,1843 criminal cases registered in 2010 with most cases reported were Gender-based. The Eastern Proviince followed closely with 2,472, then the Southern Province. The Northern Province recorded the least crimes with only 1389 cases reported.According to the report, 1,661 cases of defilement, abortion (89), and rape (314) were recorded.
Individual income increases by 4%
Kigali: Rwandans earned more over the past year compared to the previous year – as personal incomes went up by some 4% to US$541, according to the latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics. For the period ending June 2010, the GDP per capita or average incomes earned by individual Rwandans was US$541 (Approx. 308,000 Francs) compared to US$520 in 2009, and some US$380 the year before.