200 Ugandan Women-Led Companies Trained in Export Trade

In a significant stride towards fostering economic independence and empowerment, over 200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-led organizations in Uganda have been equipped with export trade and business management skills. This initiative is a collaborative effort by The Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB), the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), and the Trade Facilitation Office Canada.

This program, named “Export Launchpad Uganda,” seeks to break down the barriers traditionally faced by women-led SMEs in international trade. By providing tools, knowledge, and resources, the program aims to empower these organizations to thrive in global markets. Additionally, it offers training in crucial areas such as packaging and various other aspects of running a business.

Elly Twineyo, the executive director of UEPB, emphasized that the lack of skills, resources, and networks for global trade access are the primary challenges the program aims to address. He stated, “If we do not export our goods, then we shall be incapacitated as a country. Money that comes from export trade is better than aid because it has wider economic benefits to the population.”

The Export Launchpad initiative also aims to transform the mindset of these businesses and equip them with the skills to compete on a global level. Twineyo further explained, “The reason for the export launch pad is to transform and equip our SMEs with skills that are global and to learn how to do international trade.”

Twineyo believes that the recently introduced parish development model will stimulate mindset changes and facilitate value addition through processing and export, benefiting the Ugandan economy as a whole.

To fully implement its initiatives, the UEPB is seeking parliamentary support for fund allocation. Their objective is to reach every parish in Uganda to teach people about product and service marketing as they are the only organization mandated by law to do so.

In recent times, certain Ugandan products have faced rejection from neighboring countries on the grounds of quality. However, the UEPB believes these rejections to be politically motivated, asserting that product quality has been improving in line with international standards over the years.

Despite this progress, challenges persist, notably in informing farmers about the quality of seedlings, standards in weeding, the use of pesticides, and appropriate harvesting and packaging practices in the agricultural value chain. Nevertheless, the “Export Launchpad Uganda” program stands as a beacon of hope and empowerment for women-led SMEs in the country.