On 14th November 2021, Amb. Kintu Nyago, Uganda’s Ag. High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa, led a Team of Ugandan companies to Durban to participate in the second edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair, IATF-2021.
The Ag. High Commissioner was accompanied by his staff; Ms. Sarah Nakamya – Counselor and Mr. Boikanyo Matshego – Trade Assistant.
In collaboration with Ms. Brenda Katarikawe Opusi of Uganda Export Promotion Board, the Mission coordinated a group of interested Ugandan companies to participate in the Trade Fair, which included the following Ugandan companies: NYTIL, Lunas Enterprises – manufacturers of sweaters and Fort Garlic – the producer and supplier of garlic.
Ambassador Kintu, held various meetings with a number of companies interested in trading, establishing partnerships and linkages with companies in Uganda such as Elsewedy Electric, IFEG ( Training Institute of Electricity and Gas), Nigerian Export Council, Plendify, Nation Builders, and KHO Business Enterprise, among others.
In addition, at the Uganda Pavillion, the Mission Staff together with the officials from Uganda Export Promotion Board, engaged with various stakeholders sharing information on investment opportunities back home, marketing Ugandan commodities that were on display, brewing coffee for testing, serving Uganda Waragi for testing by visitors to the Uganda stall.
The inaugural Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2018) themed ‘Transforming Africa,’ was hosted by the Government of Egypt in December 2018 and a number of Ugandan Companies participated.
This year’s IATF 2021 themed ‘Building Bridges for a successful AfCTA,’ has been organised by the Export-Import Bank (Afrexim Bank) in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, hosted by the Government of the Republic of South Africa.
The IATF 2021 commenced on 15th November 2021 and ended on 21st November, 2021.
The opening ceremony of IATF 2021 which took place on 15th November 2021, was attended by many African leaders.
They included Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chair of the African Union; Olusegun Obasanjo, Chair of the Intra-African Trade Fair Advisory Council, and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,H.E Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the African Union Commission and co-convener of the Intra-African Trade Fair(virtual).
Others were Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia; Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe; Lazarus Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi; Mr. Édouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda and Hussein Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar; the
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, among others.
On 1st January 2021, Africa officially commenced trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area( AfCTA) under which it is aspired to get all regions of Africa connected together to deepen economic integration, and boost Intra-Africa- Africa Trade.
AfCTA provides a single market for goods and services across 55 countries and the continent creating a market of as much as 1.3 Billion people with an estimated combined GDP of $3.4 Trillion.
It also avails a valuable platform which brings together Governments, Entrepreneurs, Investors and manufacturers from Africa and beyond.
In this year’s IATF 2021, a number of activities have been arranged for exhibitors and visitors to access such as: Business to Business, Government to Government, Country Days, IATF Virtual, Creative Africa Nexus, Automotive Shows, Youth Start -ups among many.
With many African and international companies flocking the Uganda Pavilion during the IATF2021 and engaging with the Ugandan companies, mission staff and the representative from Uganda Export Promotions Board for trading prospects.
And business linkages, it is expected that in the Intra-African Trade Fair 2021, trade and investment deals will be actualised.
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