Kenya, Uganda to explore opportunities in Agribusiness

Kenya and Uganda seek to cement their trade relations on opportunities around import and export of agricultural related products.

Mombasa County will play host to the Kenya-Uganda Agri-Business Symposium and Exhibition Expo slated for September 8 and 9.

According to Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa Paul Mukumbya said event is critical in strengthening the Kenya-Uganda cross-border trade.

The expo, whose theme is, ‘Unlocking the full potential of Agri-business to enhance export performance for national development’, is expected to bring together over 50 exhibitors from Kenya, Uganda and other parts of the world.

The Kenyan National Chambers of Commerce has partnered together with Mombasa County government and the Uganda Consulate in Mombasa to organize the event.

Speaking during the media briefing to launch the event, Uganda’s Consul General in Mombasa Mukumbya the event will be a platform for the two nations to showcase their products in agribusiness.

“Our biggest trading partners in Kenya, and it is in light of this that we have organized for this symposium, which focuses on Agribusiness because most of our exports to Kenya are agricultural products including maize and milk products,” said Mukumbya.

He said during the expo, Kenyan and Ugandan traders will get to learn on issue of quality, post-harvesting handling of agricultural products.

According to Mukumbya, the Uganda’s missions and consulates abroad are now more focused on economic and commercial diplomacy, rather than political ties.

“Our core mandate is to promote tourism, exports, trade and attract various investments to Uganda and also to promote Ugandan products to new markets and existing markets,” he said.

Mombasa Deputy Governor William Kingi said that the expo will give Kenya and Uganda an opportunity to leverage on their advantages and expose their abilities to attract investors.

“This symposium will give us a great opportunity to get a platform to leverage our advantages and showcase our different interests in agriculture and agri-business to the world so that we can attract investors especially in the private sector to set shop in our respective countries,” said Kingi.

His sentiments were echoed by the chief officer Aisha Abdi who said that the expo would go a long way to help break trade barriers between Kenya and Uganda.

KNCCI Mombasa chair Mustafa Ramadhan said the is hoping the expo will contribute to a better understanding of role markets and trade in transformation of agriculture systems and foster fruitful dialogue and cooperation between Kenya and Uganda.

“We need our agricultural system to deliver food security and better nutrition for all, to be economically sustainable, to be inclusive and to have a positive impact on climate and the environment,” said Ramadan.

According to Kenya’s Economic Survey 2019, the value of imports from Uganda to Kenya rose to Sh49.4 billion in 2018 from Sh17.5 billion in 2014 on account of increased imports of maize, animal feeds, milk and sugar.

Agriculture has remained a major driver of economic growth in both countries and has been a dominant source for employment.

In Uganda, the Agriculture sector accounts for over 24 percent of their GDP and generates more than half of the country’s export earnings at 54 percent according to IMF and World Bank reports of 2019.

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