DP World Unveils Rubavu Logistics Hub to Boost Rwanda–DRC Trade

The Rubavu Logistics Hub, inaugurated this week, marks a major expansion of DP World’s investment in Rwanda’s logistics infrastructure. Equipped with a 5,000-square-metre bonded warehouse, advanced cold storage, modern office spaces, and state-of-the-art cargo handling systems, the hub is expected to process 50,000 tonnes of cargo in its first year, with capacity projected to grow to 120,000 tonnes annually.

Officials say the development will significantly boost Rwanda’s GDP while creating jobs for the local community.

Mark Rylance, Chief Operating Officer, Logistics Sub-Saharan Africa at DP World, described the new hub as “a critical artery of regional trade,” noting its potential to better connect Rwandan businesses to Burundi, the DRC, and the global marketplace.

He said the project reflects DP World’s commitment to fostering socio-economic change by opening up opportunities and supporting local communities.

Strategically located in Rubavu, a bustling cross-border hub with the DRC—one of Rwanda’s largest trading partners—the facility complements the Kigali Dry Port, which DP World has operated since 2019. Together, the two form a national logistics corridor linking Rwanda’s economy to regional and global supply chains.

At the same ceremony, DP World and Bridges to Prosperity inaugurated a 50-metre suspended trail bridge in Kabeza, built with support from nine DP World volunteers and recycled steel cables from the company’s operations.

The bridge is expected to directly improve the lives of over 4,600 residents by providing year-round safe access to schools, healthcare facilities, and markets. Anticipated benefits include a 30% rise in household income, a 60% increase in women’s labour force participation, a 75% growth in farm profits, and a doubling of school attendance for girls.

Shushant Mallik, Managing Director of DP World Rwanda, said the dual milestone highlights the company’s strategy of combining infrastructure investment with community empowerment. “With the Kigali Dry Port at the centre and the new Rubavu Hub on Rwanda’s western frontier, DP World is building a logistics ecosystem that connects local businesses to regional and global markets,” he said.

Local authorities also welcomed the investment. “Rubavu operates as a secondary city, and this logistics hub will contribute to efficient cross-border movement, youth employment, and many new business opportunities for our region,” said Deo Nzabonimpa, Vice Mayor for Economic Development in Rubavu.

Since opening the Kigali Dry Port six years ago with a 98% Rwandan workforce, DP World has positioned itself as a key partner in Rwanda’s trade facilitation, connecting local businesses to the Indian Ocean nearly 1,500 kilometres away. The new Rubavu facility, officials say, adds another vital link in that chain.

These investments underscore how strategic infrastructure can unlock trade potential, improve community welfare, and advance Rwanda’s long-term development goals.