Uganda to host exhibition for EAC small scale artisans

Uganda is to host the 17th edition of the East African Community Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition that will take place from December 5 to 11, 2016 in Kampala.

The exhibition will held under the theme, "Buy East African MSE Products to build East Africa"

According to the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, the Jua Kali /Nguvu Kazi Expo is an annual regional exhibition within the East African Community (EAC) with an objective of bringing together the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) artisans and innovators from the East African Region

The purpose is opening up new market frontiers for their products as well as bridging up the technological gaps between them.

The hosting of the expo among the EAC Partner States is rotational. It was held in Dar es Salaam last year and in Kigali in 2014.

The exhibition, the ministry said, provides a forum for artisans to demonstrate their innovations to an East African region that is focused on attaining a fully-fledged Common Market complete with free movement of goods, services, labour, people, capital and the right of establishing business and residence.
 
The EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition is as old as the EAC itself, having been held every year since 1999 through collaboration between the EAC Secretariat, the Partner States and Confederation of Informal Sector Organizations East Africa (CISO-EA).

At the exhibition, experts give the exhibitors professional advice on the key topics such as: opportunities offered by the East African Common Market Protocol; how to invest in East Africa; public procurement procedures/requirements; and lastly accessing markets through retail outlets.
 
Uganda last hosted the 12th East African Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition at the UMA Show Grounds in Kampala, from December 4 to 10, 2011.