Rwanda's exports of goods and services increased by 31.7 percent last year from 2010, thanks to growth in mining, tea and coffee, its minister for trade and industry said.

Fracois Kanimba said the government was working hard to control inflation after it increased for several months right up to October last year when it stood at 7.76 percent.

"2011 was a great year for us," he said in a statement seen by Reuters.

Although landlocked, tiny Rwanda constantly punches above its weight in the region, racing ahead of bigger neighbours like Uganda in terms of ease-of-doing business, and going head to head with Kenya in trying to create a world class Information Communication Technology sector.

It expects its economy to expand by 7.6 percent this year after growing by 8.8 percent in 2011 on the back of growth in construction, mining and manufacturing. (Reuters)