UMA International Show Kicks Off In Low Key
Oct 04, 2002
The 10th Uganda International Trade Fair got under way yesterday to a low key, but exhibitors were optimistic of a better turn-up today during the official opening by President Yoweri Museveni.
By Raymond Mikah
and Ricks Kayizzi
The 10th Uganda International Trade Fair got under way yesterday to a low key, but exhibitors were optimistic of a better turn-up today during the official opening by President Yoweri Museveni.
By noon yesterday, several exhibitors were still putting final touches to their stalls and stands.
UMA however expects the number of show- goers to be more than that of last year’s 150,000. The number of exibitors has also risen from last years 500 to 530, while the countries participating also rose from 27 to 32.
“This year’s exhibition is well organised compared to last year’s, in terms of arrangement, number of participants and number of exhibitors,†said Patrick Banya UMA’s Director for Information.
He said that because of this they were expecting a large turn up. He said that 20% of the exhibitors are new entrants, while 80% have participated before.
Meanwhile, traders who are taking part in the fair have called for a change in Uganda’s tax regime, saying that its less friendly to importers.
“So far we have had a good response in the demand for our products, but the tax regime is so hostile to importers who try to break into the market here,†said Raman Thakur, the manager for International Trade, for the Indian based Knight Queen Group of Industries.
They manufacture laterns, stoves, mosquito repellants, steel decoration tubes, among other products.
“We are even not supposed to sell any single piece of our products here, because customs officials were demanding for exhorbitant entry fees. We only shipped in what we could display,†he said.
The show will last for a week.
Ends
and Ricks Kayizzi
The 10th Uganda International Trade Fair got under way yesterday to a low key, but exhibitors were optimistic of a better turn-up today during the official opening by President Yoweri Museveni.
By noon yesterday, several exhibitors were still putting final touches to their stalls and stands.
UMA however expects the number of show- goers to be more than that of last year’s 150,000. The number of exibitors has also risen from last years 500 to 530, while the countries participating also rose from 27 to 32.
“This year’s exhibition is well organised compared to last year’s, in terms of arrangement, number of participants and number of exhibitors,†said Patrick Banya UMA’s Director for Information.
He said that because of this they were expecting a large turn up. He said that 20% of the exhibitors are new entrants, while 80% have participated before.
Meanwhile, traders who are taking part in the fair have called for a change in Uganda’s tax regime, saying that its less friendly to importers.
“So far we have had a good response in the demand for our products, but the tax regime is so hostile to importers who try to break into the market here,†said Raman Thakur, the manager for International Trade, for the Indian based Knight Queen Group of Industries.
They manufacture laterns, stoves, mosquito repellants, steel decoration tubes, among other products.
“We are even not supposed to sell any single piece of our products here, because customs officials were demanding for exhorbitant entry fees. We only shipped in what we could display,†he said.
The show will last for a week.
Ends