Entrepreneurs dealing in handicrafts could soon get access to international markets as the government scales up investment in the business to diversify exports.

Crafts are expected to complement the coffee, tea and mineral exports that have been dominating Rwanda’s export receipts.

Francois Kanimba, the Minister of Trade and Industry, said the sector has not been fully tapped to generate the required foreign currency adding that it had the potential to raise over $7 million annually in exports earnings.

Currently it is estimated that the industry earns Rwanda between $3 million and $4 million annually.

“We project the earnings should grow at least six-fold by 2017. The artisans are not producing what is needed on the market,” said Mr Kanimba during the recent second Handicraft Excellence Award Programme (Heap) that aims to advance professionalism and originality in the craft sector.

Heap intends to encourage innovation and product development for the craft export markets in the US, Europe and other targeted markets.

The players now have a central place where best quality products are displayed and sold. It also to acts as a one-stop centre where clients can have a glimpse of Rwanda’s handicraft.

“We have experts to advise them on the type and quality of products on demand and where they can be marketed,” said Mr Kanimba.

Government has also started online marketing of crafts, a development experts in the ministry of culture say gives Rwanda mileage crafts producing countries.

“A website has been constructed and we are trying to build handicraft hubs where our clients can pick their products,” said Isaac Bugingo, from Ikaze Ltd, a handcraft showroom that promotes handcraft exports.

“We compete on the basis of quality and that’s why most of our products are preferred, but the challenges has been on how easily people can access these products.”

Claudine Murebwayire, an artisan, confesses, “It has been hard to access the market because you are either offered little money or you completely cannot get anyone to buy, but now they come looking for us.”

With the political will, the future is bright for craft makers. “This is quite a big deal and I have seen countries reap big through the sale of these products. We believe there is a great opportunity for us in this market,” Mr Kanimba observed.