The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, together with the Uganda Manufacturers Association, are set to host the International Trade Fair to allow manufacturers and suppliers of commodities from different countries to interact and showcase progress and collaboration to boost trade.
According to David Bahati, the Minister of State for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, the Trade Fair is scheduled to start on October 2-10, 2024, at Lugogo show grounds under the theme Celebrating 30 years of Industrial Excellence.
While addressing members of the press at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Thursday, September 26, 2024, Bahati revealed that this year’s trade fair would fetch participants and exhibitors from the East African Community, COMESA, and other parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe.
“Uganda has now established sufficient capacity to produce essential products to meet the domestic demand and for exports such as drugs, textiles, transformers, industrial starch, and automobiles, among others,” Bahat said.
He added that the event is in line with the strategic objectives of the NRM government, such as industrialization, value addition to local raw materials for import substitution, export promotion, and wealth creation. According to Bahati, this will create a self-sustained economy.
“From East Africa, countries participating and bringing a variety of goods to the trade fair include Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DRC, and from the rest of Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Egypt, and Zambia, among others. Others include India, the United Kingdom, China, South Korea, Indonesia, and Iran, among others,” Bahati said.
President Museveni is expected to officiate as a chief guest at the opening on Friday, October 4, 2024. According to Bahat, Museveni will be accompanied by the First Lady, Cabinet Ministers, and Members of Parliament.