Export Launchpad Uganda Opens Doors for Women-led SMEs to Global Markets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kampala, Uganda (March 16, 2023) – The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), TFO Canada, and the Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB) have launched the Export Launchpad Uganda program to provide women-led SMEs with the necessary tools and knowledge to expand their businesses in international markets. The program aims to address the main constraints faced by women exporters, such as their lack of knowledge, skills, resources, and network to access global trade.
The Export Launchpad Uganda is a joint initiative of ITFC, Trade Development Fund, and Global Affairs Canada through its Women in Trade for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth (WITISG) project, implemented by TFO Canada in collaboration with UEPB, the Trade Support Institution of the recipient country. The program has two components: training-of-trainers and SME preparation and strengthening.
The first component, training-of-trainers, aims to establish an exporter training platform implemented through a lead Trade Support Institution (TSI) and other TSIs in the selected countries. The second component focuses on preparing and strengthening the capabilities of SMEs (112 in total) and their products and equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge that could contribute to introducing in an efficient and effective way their products into the Canadian and international markets in the agrifood sector, to significantly position them and be also prepared to take advantage of new export opportunities that could be generated.
During a joint UEPB-TFO Canada exploratory mission in Kampala, Uganda, several 1-on-1 meetings were held with key public and private sector stakeholders to identify the priority sectors, understand the trade promotion services gaps/needs of SMEs, particularly women-owned/led ones, and the capacity building needs of local TSIs to service the SMEs’ needs. The project will benefit 50 trainers across the country, and the training is planned to be offered to SMEs in Uganda from the agrifood value chains and subsectors. A training manual has been launched as the output of this initiative. The manual will be validated by different institutions in the country, becoming a resource for the whole country.
Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, ITFC CEO Stated “Within ITFC’s mandate to prioritize SMEs as the backbone of economic development, the Ugandan MSMEs play a vital role in the nation’s private sector and the contribution to the overall GDP. Strengthening these businesses, especially post-COVID-19 revival, is vital for the Ugandan economy’s resilience. In collaboration with our partners at GAC, TFO Canada, and UEPB, we recognize that digital tools and solutions offer MSMEs the opportunity to enhance efficiency, promote growth, and ultimately flourish in the global market. As such, Export Launchpad Uganda, aligned with ITFC’s mission, serves as a crucial initiative for economic recovery and safeguarding Ugandan livelihoods.”
“We are grateful to the ITFC for the leadership they have demonstrated in supporting its member countries to seek international markets. Through this program, TFO Canada is bringing internationally experienced sector and subject matter experts, to design and deliver unique export-readiness training. Given the challenges we all face post COVID-19, our collaboration with the partners of the Export Launchpad – Uganda project is impressive and will result in Ugandan SMEs increasing and diversifying their exports to the world, thereby contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic growth of the country.”, commented Steve Tipman, Executive Director of TFO Canada.
About the partners
Trade Facilitation Office (TFO) Canada is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve lives through the creation of sustainable trade partnerships for exporters from developing countries with Canadian and foreign buyers. Since 1980, TFO Canada has been providing trade promotion and capacity building services to tens of thousands of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and hundreds of Trade Support Institutions (TSIs)/Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs)/Business Support Organizations (BSOs) from many countries in Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC or the Corporation) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving socioeconomic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided US$68.5 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for these member countries’ needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market.
Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB) is a public Trade Promotion Organization, established by the Parliamentary Statue No. 2 of 1996. It is supervised by the Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives. With the core mandate of development and promotion of Uganda’s exports UEPB facilitates the expansion and diversification of export markets and products through the provision of trade and market information including export procedures and documentation, price information, export statistics and trends, spearheads the development of exports through export readiness assessment of MSMEs and the design of the necessary support mechanism including capacity building. UEPB supports the participation of exporting enterprise in trade promotion programmes including trade fairs/exhibitions, expositions, and trade missions.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) shapes and advances Canada’s interests and values in a complex global environment. GAC manages diplomatic relations, promotes international trade and provides consular support. GAC leads international development, humanitarian, and peace and security assistance efforts. GAC also contributes to national security and the development of international law.
The Trade Development Fund (TDFD) is a Waqf based fund, managed by ITFC, established in 2018, aims to provide sustainable financial resources to support the design and implementation of Trade Development activities and projects to enhance trade of Member Countries. The Fund commenced operations on January 1st, 2020.