KAMPALA— The Jua Kali Exhibition, which is being fronted by the East African Community (EAC) to promote intra-trade in the region, has opened in Kampala.

 

The business communities of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) from the seven EAC partner states have all descended at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds with various goods and services made from the region.

 

The goods include textiles, foodstuffs, ornaments, handiwork, cosmetics, African wear, plants, seedlings, machinery, shoes, bags, medicines, furniture, and art and craft materials.

 

Accompanying the show are the amazing traditional dancers mainly from DRC, Burundi and Uganda that have wowed the showgoers.

 

The 22nd Edition of EAC MSMEs Trade Fair, popularly known as the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition was officially opened Dec 11.

 

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, while representing President Yoweri Museveni, opened the event. Nabbanja asked Ugandans to turn up in large numbers to buy products on sale, build networks and support the event for mutual benefit.

 

Nabbanja, to the amazement of the event organisers, walked through nearly the over 1,000 stalls. She also bought several items from representatives of businesses from the seven partner states.

 

“The representatives from all the seven partner states are here. Come and buy to support the business community,” Nabbanja said.

 

She added that the Uganda Government has put in place many policies, and laws to ease doing business.

 

The event was attended by ministers from Burundi, Tanzania and high-level delegates from South Sudan, DRC, Rwanda and Kenya.

 

The seven partners have a total population of about 300m people and GDP of $305b (about Uganda shillings 1.126 trillion).

 

Representatives from all seven partner states praised the high quality of the organisation and thanked Ugandans for their great hospitality.

 

The event, which is being held under the theme: Buy East African to Build East Africa for Resilience and Sustainable Development, has attracted more than 1,000 artisans from the partner states.

 

Some of the exhibitors called for increased use of the various media platforms and telecommunications companies to promote awareness about the event.

 

Many are optimistic to make sales and not returning any stock to their stores.

 

The main objective of the trade fair is to contribute towards the realisation of the region’s development goals and aspirations by lending support to this budding sector of the economy.

 

This needs public and Government support in order to be sustainable.

 

The trade fairs further create an impact on the image of the sector, which is today seen as the solution to the frightening question of unemployment and poverty alleviation in the region.

 

The first EAC MSMEs Trade Fair was held in Arusha, Tanzania in November 1999 during the historic event of the signing of the treaty for the establishment of the EAC.

 

Subsequent to the success of the Arusha exhibition, the EAC heads of state directed that the exhibition be held annually on a rotational basis among the partner states to enhance the socio-economic integration of the people of East Africa.

 

The 21st edition of the trade fair was held in Mwanza, Tanzania in December 2021 were more than 1,000 exhibitors participated.

 

The exhibitions have benefited small traders in building capacity on value addition, cross-border trade and the EAC simplified trade regime among others through the symposium.

 

Knowledge sharing, technological transfer, building new partnerships and markets are among other benefits of the exhibition.

 

Over the years, the region has experienced more traders formalising their businesses, adding value to their goods and expanding and capturing new markets.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK