Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) in partnership with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has kick-started the training of over 250 enterprises in the niche value chains in exporting through the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).
The ACFTA was created to form a single market for goods and services on the African continent, which allows for free movement of persons and investments.
ACFTA, which has a market base, has been touted as a game changer for economies like Uganda, as it promises larger market opportunities, triggering more trade and investment and allowing greater value addition, export diversification and productivity growth – leading to more and better jobs with greater social inclusion.
PSFU Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stephen Asiimwe said the aim of the training is to “provide technical support to equip export-ready enterprises in Uganda with knowledge, skills, and tools to enhance access to regional and continental markets.”
This involves the coordination, provision of business coaching, mentoring, and business advisory support to 250 export-ready enterprises, and publishing a brief detailing towards the Export Readiness of 250 targeted enterprises.
The training, which is taking place at Silver Springs Hotel in Kampala, will cover a total of 6 days running from March 21- 29, 2022 with the sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, trade and commerce, logistics and transport, tourism, ICT, and professional services running parallel to each other.
Each sector’s training will cover a course of 2 days.
Enterprises will then be tasked to scale their businesses to export while regarding the different trade policies and standards of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The training, which puts into consideration the issue of gender, also doubles as an incentive of creating awareness on the provisions of the AFCTA and the market opportunities the trade agreement offers.
PSFU recently facilitated a Training of Trainers session to equip 30 selected PSFU and Association staff with the knowledge on the provisions of the AfCFTA, the market opportunities the trade agreement offers and the rights and responsibilities that come with it.
Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) is Uganda’s apex body for the private sector. It is made up of over 200 business associations, corporate bodies and the major public sector agencies that support private sector growth.