Use recognition to improve standards, expand businesses — Vice President Alupo
“An award on the shelf matters less than an award that opens doors and new opportunities,” Alupo said, encouraging businesses to engage with platforms offering market access, business networking and funding opportunities
Alupo said the winners have a responsibility to maintain those standards and strengthen the region’s reputation.
KAMPALA - Vice-President Jessica Alupo has urged Uganda’s local manufacturers to use the recognition to improve standards and expand their businesses into regional and international markets.
“Each of you represents a character of consistency, integrity, and quality that others in your industry will be measuring up to. I now urge you that this is not the endpoint but a responsibility to set the bar higher and keep Uganda’s, East Africa’s and South Africa’s brand reputation rising on the global stage,” remarked the Vice President in a speech read on her behalf by Andrew Matovu Bukenya, the Director of Business and Enterprise Development at the Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development.
The call was made on October 16th to local manufacturers who received awards at the sixth edition of the East African Brand Quality Awards held at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
The VP's speech also highlighted the Investors Exim Hub as a platform intended to connect recognised businesses to export and import markets, business-to-business networks and potential sources of funding.
“An award on the shelf matters less than an award that opens doors and new opportunities,” Alupo said, encouraging businesses to engage with platforms offering market access, business networking and funding opportunities
Among those who received awards was TMR International Hospital, which was named Best Healthcare Service Provider: Multi-speciality in East Africa — Platinum Winner and Best Digital Health Innovation in East Africa — Platinum Winner, and also received the Quality Seal of Excellence award.
The East African Brand Quality Awards provide a regional platform for recognising business excellence, strengthening brand identity and promoting consumer confidence.
The awards cover nine countries: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Ethiopia.
At the Kampala ceremony, 250 brands were recognised out of approximately 370 nominees across more than 230 categories in over 20 economic sectors, including manufacturing, digital technology, financial services, hospitality, agriculture, construction and healthcare.
The event was held under the theme “Global Visionaries of Quality: Pioneering Sustainable Innovations, Advancing Technology and Value Addition.”