Uganda Trade Portal

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives in partnership with SwissContact and the Global Alliance Trade Facilitation under the RUSH project updated the Uganda Trade Portal with:

• Updated information on standard step-by-step procedure for first time exporters.

• Key contact persons and contact details for entities that facilitate the export process.

• And updated information on export procedures for top horticulture products

This was revealed at the launch of the portal on 14th June 2023 at the Hortifresh Association secretariat. This is part of the effort by development partners including SwissContact and Global Alliance to facilitate cross border trade with operational cost saving measures for exporters of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The portal was set up to bridge the gap between the regulator and the traders. According to Ms. Mary Amumpaire from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, the portal is a cost saving measure in terms of time and money for first time exporters of fresh fruits and vegetables. First time exporters are now able to follow a simple step by step guideline which provides details of the registration requirements, supervising authorities and contact persons at every stage of the export process. Additionally, fees and processing time are clearly stipulated thus providing a clear understanding for traders on the right way of doing business including the process of obtaining an exporting license thereby saving the exporters time and money which could have been lost going through middlemen.

The expansion of the trade portal to accommodate fresh fruits and vegetables for export was applauded by Mr. Fred Zake the Executive Director of Hortifresh Association, which is the umbrella organization for producers, traders and exporters of fresh fruits and vegetables in Uganda. In his speech, he welcomed the updates on the portal, highlighting that this was a step in the right direction towards increasing the volume and value of exports of fresh fruits and vegetables from Uganda. Information on the portal will help exporters reduce the time and cost of doing business, and equip them with information to enable them do their business seamlessly.

Further to this the Principal Agriculture Inspector at the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries Mr. Musiimenta Herbert thanked the partners for the updates as they highlight key market requirements and standards for foreign markets that must be adhered by the exporters. Also in attendance were representatives from the Uganda Exports Promotions Board, Uganda Airlines, Uganda Agribusiness Alliance, Uganda Free Zones Authority, and several exporters of Horticultural produce.

The Uganda Trade Portal is a user-friendly interface accessed via www.ugandatrades.go.ug, created by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives in collaboration with the National Trade Facilitation Committee, in partnership with the East African Community Secretariat and with support from United States Agency for International Development, TradeMark East Africa, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and International Trade Centre.

With the Uganda Trade Portal, traders can find simple-to-follow step by step guidelines for first-time and repeat exporters, key contact details for various entities that will facilitate the export process of Horticulture goods.