Analysis of the Rwandan coltan competitiveness on the world market through its offer specifications.

Abstract

Today, the Rwandan mining sector is one of the country's key export sectors and Rwanda is one of the world's fourth largest producers of coltan (MACIG,2014). The coltan from Rwanda is known from its high quality which affects positively its price on international market. This research was conducted to analyze the competitiveness of Rwandan coltan through the specification of its offer. An hypothesized model has been used to measure the competitiveness in identifying variables and their relationship The study was a case study which adopted a mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected by using self-administered questionnaires, interviews and documentation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The major findings include that the territorial qualification (high tenor in oxide of tantalite) and the certification as specifications contribute to the competiveness of the Rwandan coltan. Although the Rwandan coltan is said to be of high quality, there are some challenges which still hinder its full success on the market. However, some ways addressing the challenges have been identified for a sustainable development and productivity growth for Rwanda: a renewing strategic focus on building the geological knowledge base, on value addition, on broader development outcomes, on domestic processing, on development of technological and business skills. The creation of future high institutions training, a regional political integration and the mobilization of funds may also enhance the competitiveness of the Rwandan coltan.