By Alois Vinga
ZIMTRADE has secured space for Zimbabwean business people who would like to showcase their wares at the inaugural high level Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) that will take place in Egypt next month.
The ZIMTRADE board chairperson, Lance Jena said that locals intending to take advantage of the exhibition will be assisted.
“We have secured 300 square metres for Zimbabweans wishing to exhibit their wares at the IATF. We are also organising for a Zimbabwe Day where the country’s trade related opportunities will be publicized,” he said.
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda will deliver a keynote address to kick off a stakeholder engagement event being hosted by the Afreximbank in Kampala on Monday to promote the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF).
The Trade Fair, organised by Afreximbank, in collaboration with the African Union and hosted by the Government of Egypt, will take place in Cairo from 11 to 17 December.
The stakeholder engagement event, is being organised in collaboration with the Uganda Export Promotion Board and will be held under the theme “Strategy to Deepen Uganda–Africa Trade”.
It will feature high-powered panel discussion exploring ways of increasing the level of trade between Uganda and the rest of Africa.
Participating in the panel will be Stephen Kauma, Afreximbank’s Director and Global Head for Human Resources; Charles Oleny Ojok, Secretary General, Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Dr. Samuel Sejaaka, Partner, SNG Sejaaka, Kawaase & Company (SNG Africa Group); and Mr. Gideon Badagawa, Executive Director, Private Sector Foundation, Uganda.
They will be joined by Felix Okoboi, Chairman, Board of Directors, Uganda Development Bank Limited; Gideon Badagawa, Executive Director, Private Sector Foundation Uganda; and Dr. Fred Muhumuza, an Academician.
The discussion, scheduled for the Speke Resort and Conference Centre, Munyonyo, will look at ways of unlocking the intra-regional trade and investment potentials of Uganda.
The event will also feature a keynote address by Amelia Kyambadde, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives of Uganda.
Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, said the high level trade fair holds immense opportunities for the continent.
“Intra-African trade accounts for only 15 percent of Africa’s total trade. In Europe the figure is 67 percent. We, therefore, need to develop industrialization in Africa, increase intra-African trade, and no longer depend on export of raw materials. We need to create more value-added and diversified exports,” he said.
