Posted on :Tuesday , 8th January 2019

Free market access for its soya and sunflower exports which is a boost to these products originating from the landlocked country has been granted by Tanzania to Uganda. The two countries, led by their respective trade ministries, was agreed that Ugandan traders be granted permits export the products to Tanzania.

The Mutukula OSBP meeting organised by Ugandan Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde and her Tanzanian counterpart Joseph Kakunda opened talks on further joint collaborations to address non-tariff barriers in the spirit of EAC combination, a move that will increase cross border trade.

The recent developments place Uganda on track to continue building on its export bill which has been growing in recent times. President John Magufuli(Tanzania) and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni have previously had close talks on increasing trade and investments between the two countries, tasking their respective teams to address existing issues.

The landlocked country which mainly imports its products through Kenya's Port of Mombasa and Tanzania ports established regional markets for its exports. The value of Uganda's formal exports to her neighbours increased to above US $1.1 billion, up from US$425 million in 2007.

For the first time, Uganda exported more items to Kenya than she imported with goods worth US$780 million finding market in Kenya, nearly doubling imports which stood at about US$400 million. The country was able to overturn the tables specially on consumer goods and personal care products which for long have been imported from Kenya.

The movement have been credited on improved manufacturing sector, growth of the agricultural sector and political stability. The country has also been interested to improve the quality of locally produced goods. Uganda's extensive exports to Kenya and her neighbours include coffee, tea, spices, wastes of food industry, animal fodder, cereals, dairy products, eggs, honey, edible products, edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers. Whereas other exports includes mineral fuels, oils, distillation products, tobacco and manufactures tobacco substitutes, sugars and sugar confectionery, wood and articles of wood, wood charcoal, iron and steel.

The growing export market is something expected to continue this year in the wake of stable macro-economic conditions.