The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) is going on an eight-day industrial tour of Turkey in collaboration with the Turkish Embassy in Uganda.
With this project, Ugandan manufacturers have an incredible chance to reach a wider audience, establish global collaborations, and stimulate economic growth—all of which are goals that are in line with the Parish Development Model (PDM).
This industrial tour’s main goals are to expand markets for a range of Ugandan goods, support investment collaborations, create vital business ties, and encourage the sharing of expertise.
In order to build relationships that will support Uganda’s economic development, a delegation consisting of 25 representatives from the Uganda Manufacturers Association and the Uganda Chamber of Commerce and Industry is scheduled to establish connections between Ugandan traders and manufacturers and the international market.
During the flag-off meeting at the UMA Head Office, Deo Kayemba, Chairman of the UMA Board of Directors, stressed the importance of such international alliances.
He emphasized the need for Ugandan industrialists to become more influential outside national boundaries in order to secure markets for domestic goods and get exposure to global best practices, state-of-the-art technologies, and creative ideas that are all in line with the PDM agenda.
The meticulously planned tour schedule will give the Ugandan delegates a thorough understanding of Turkey’s industrial sectors, which include steel, energy, food processing, textiles, and more.
The team hopes to establish beneficial business exchanges and a first-hand understanding of possible investment prospects through scheduled meetings, according to Kayemba.
Uganda and Turkey’s commercial relations have been getting stronger over time. Uganda exported $11.7 million worth of goods to Turkey in 2021, including fruits, coffee, tea, tobacco, and tea.
In the meantime, Uganda received $53.1 million worth of Turkish exports, mostly electrical goods, household appliances, and industrial.
The developing economic connection is highlighted by this growth trajectory, which has grown from a meager $722k in 1995 to US$11.7 million in 2021, or an annual growth rate of 11.3 percent.
The policy agenda of the UMA seeks to help agro-processing and current manufacturers in order to revive the primary industries.
The chair of the UMA advisory group, James Kalibbala, stated that “many investment and partnership opportunities, particularly in electronic, electrical, steel, textiles, coffee, and the mineral sector, are expected to be unveiled by this industrial tour.”
Delegates will explore Turkish markets in addition to the local market, learning how to source machinery and raw materials for Ugandan industries and boost product competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.
Along with promoting collaborations and conversations, the tour aims to strengthen Uganda’s industrial capacity and generate employment prospects by drawing in international investment.
Another major goal of the journey is business networking, where Ugandan delegates will interact with Turkish businesspeople and industrialists.
This will create important business relationships and encourage the sharing of creative ideas, opening up new prospects for partnerships and expansion.
Kalibbala claims that UMA is still committed to helping regional manufacturers achieve expansion and worldwide competitiveness.
“This industrial tour is not just an event; it’s a catalyst for progress, empowering Ugandan industrialists to tap into the vast opportunities available on the international stage.” One of the tour’s makers, Sarah Basemera, thanked the organizers for the chance, which she planned to use for networking and benchmarking.