Uganda Woos Investors at Second Edition of Intra-Africa Trade Fair
Uganda participated in the second edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF-2021) and a team led by Uganda’s acting High Commissioner to South Africa Kintu Nyago pitched investors key areas they can sink their cash in if they come to Kampala.
Officials that accompanied ambassador Nyago to the expo that took place in Durban from November 15-21, included Sarah Nakamya, a counselor at the Commission; Boikanyo Matshego, a trade assistant at the Commission; and Brenda Katarikawe Opusi from Uganda Export Promotion Board.
Ugandan companies that partook in trade fair included NYTIL, Lunas Enterprises and Fort Garlic.
The ambassador Kintu, according to an official statement, held various meetings with a number of companies interested in trading, establishing partnerships and linkages with companies in Uganda and the government.
Some of the companies he talked to are Elsewedy Electric, IFEG (Training Institute of Electricity and Gas), Nigerian Export Council, Plendify, Nation Builders, KHO Business Enterprise, etc.
Uganda had a pavilion, where a number of locally-made commodities were exhibited.
The inaugural Intra-African Trade Fair(IATF 2018) themed “Transforming Africa” was hosted by Egypt in December 2018 and a number of Ugandan companies participated.
This year’s IATF 2021 themed “Building Bridges for a successful AfCTA” was organized by the Export-Import Bank (Afrexim Bank) in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat.
The Opening Ceremony of IATF 2021 was attended by many African leaders including Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chair of the African Union; Olusegun Obasanjo, Chair of the Intra-African Trade Fair Advisory Council and Former President of Nigeria; Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission and co-convener of the Intra-African Trade Fair(virtual); Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria; Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia; Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe,; Lazarus Chakwera, President of Malawi; Édouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of Rwanda; and Hussein Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar.
On Jan 1, 2021, Africa officially commenced trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area( AfCTA) under which it is aspired to get all regions of Africa connected together to deepen economic integration and boost Intra-Africa- Africa Trade.
AfCTA provides a single market for goods and services across 55 countries and the continent creating a market of as much as 1.3 Billion people with an estimated combined GDP of $3.4 trillion.
It also avails a valuable platform that brings together governments, entrepreneurs, investors and manufacturers from Africa and beyond.
Links
- 163 views
Join the conversation