Morocco, South Korea new markets for Uganda’s exports

An illustration shows the value of exports to Morocco and South Korea. The two countries have been identified as emerging eport destinations for Uganda’s exports. Illustration courtesy of uganda export promotion board

What you need to know:

Morocco mainly interested in Uganda’s coffee and oil seeds

KAMPALA

Morocco and South Korea are the emerging export destinations for the country’s major cash crops, the Uganda Export Promotion Board records, have shown.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Moses Mabala, the Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB) trade promotion officer, said the rate at which the North African country (Morocco) values Uganda’s agricultural export, is comparable to none at the moment.

Similarly, South Korea’s demand for Uganda’s export is growing at an overwhelming rate—much faster than the traditional export destination such as the United Kingdom, US and China.
He said: “At the moment, Morocco and South Korea are our fastest growing export markets. This is an indication of growing demand for Uganda’s exports to the two countries.”
In his presentation during training of exporters in Kampala on Tuesday, Mr Mabala said: “Morocco is mostly interested in coffee and oil seeds while South Korea wants tobacco, hides and skins as well as coffee.”
He continued: “These two countries are ready markets for those crops so what our exporters have to do is to up their game and take advantage of the emerging markets.”
The emergence of the two countries adds to the already existing markets in Japan, China, US, the EU and part of Middle East let alone the regional blocs such as the EAC and COMESA.
In order to utilise the opportunities that exist in both the emerging markets and the traditional ones, Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde advised the exporters to improve on their packaging, labelling and branding if they are to succeed in the export business. She also asked them to have their products certified, and form cooperatives to help them raise the required quantities. The minister also urged the exporters to add value to their products which will see them earn more than they would be earning when exporting raw produce.

Problems faced
According to Mr Moses Bagala, an exporter, one of the biggest problems facing the export industry is the lack of tailor-made financing facility. He said the financing that is available does not meet the requirement demands of a player involved in both regional and global trade.