Export Promotions Board to train traders
Aug 28, 2015
Lack of awareness of trade procedures at border points among small scale traders is to blame for the low exports.
By Prossy Nandudu
Lack of awareness of trade procedures at border points among small scale traders is to blame for the low exports.
This is according to the executive director of the Uganda Export Promotions Board (UEPB) Elly Twineyo Kamugisha, who was addressing members of the Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA) in Kampala.
“Many lack the information on cross border trade like taxes .They still pay taxes on exports and yet they are Zero rated, but because they are exporting informally ,they end up paying these fees to people who pose as officials from the Tax Authority,” said Kamugisha.
He blames the problem partly on the lack of human resource and disorganization within the export promotions office which made it hard for them to reach out to small scale traders.
Kamugisha adds they have embarked on a mass sensitize exercise of small scale industries in partnership with USSIA on the various issues regarding trade at borders like standards, taxes, product development.
They will also engage government agencies to fully understand USSIA so as to consider them in most of their work plans, in addition to creating platforms for buyers to meet producers.
“This will give chances to exporters and buyers to explain to producers what is considered when producing goods for export in terms of standards, packaging, branding and this will be done through organized groups,” added Kamugisha.
John Walugembe, the executive director of USSIA said the partnership will increase the capacity of their members to produce quality products for export and home consumption.
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