Kampala — Bilateral trade relations between Kenya and Rwanda have received a boost with the official opening of the first Nakumatt supermarket chain in Kigali Rwanda.

The Kenyan headquartered supermarket chain which has announced plans to cover the Pan African market in the coming years has officially opened doors to its first $3million 24 hour supermarket outlet.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Rwanda's Minister for Trade and Industry Monique Nsanzabaganwa confirmed that Nakumatt's entry had been made possible by the Rwanda government's ongoing private sector investment policy reforms.

"The government of Rwanda has already achieved a range of investment reforms necessary for rapid growth of business and many more are still under review," Nsanzabaganwa said.

The Supermarket is situated in the heart of Kigali city at the ultra modern Union Trade Centre; the new Nakumatt City Centre outlet covering a shopping floor space of more than 25,000 square feet is the first operational Nakumatt outlet outside Kenya with plans to open similar stores in Uganda and Tanzania now at an advanced stage.

Nakumatt Holdings, Ramamurthy disclosed will be investing more than US$20million in the East Africa expansion plan which will see the chain opening 3 branches in Uganda, 2 in Rwanda, 4 in Tanzania and raising its Kenyan network to 30 in the next two years.

With the opening of the new Nakumatt City Centre branch in Kigali city, Nakumatt Holdings has managed to attain an East Africa presence dream on schedule while raising its total branch tally to twenty.

In Uganda, the chain Supermarket is soon opening its doors for Ugandan shoppers before the end of this year. Construction of their premises is underway along Yusuf Lule Road.

Other Nakumatt outlets include Nakumatt Mega, Westgate, Ngong Road, Junction, Embakasi, Ukay, Karen, Highridge, Downtown, Village, Lifestyle and Thika Road branches all in Nairobi city. Others include Nakumatt Meru, Household (Eldoret) among others.