A delegation of 27 companies from Mauritius is expected in the country this weekend to stage a two-day exhibition showcasing goods made in Mauritius and source business partnerships in Uganda.
According to Mr Amos Tindyebwa, the executive director of the Trade and Development Centre (TBDC), the

exhibition—the second of its kind— will include buyer-seller meetings targeting the business community in Uganda that has been traditionally importing goods of questionable quality from the Far East and China yet Mauritius is producing similar goods of better quality which are enjoyed in USA and UK.

Led by the Mauritius Trade, Industry and Consumer Protection minister, Mr Cader Sayed Hossen, the delegation from the Indian Ocean island country under the Enterprise Mauritius initiative, also seeks to expand its market to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.

“The first exhibition was testing and ground breaking to introduce the Mauritius business community to Uganda. Most traders have been venturing into the Far East Markets where it takes two months to import a vessel notwithstanding pirates operating deep in the ocean,” said Mr Tindyebwa.

Opportunities
He added that traders should take advantage of the Mauritius free port services to quicken shipment of goods and also use Mauritius as an international sourcing centre that is more cost effective.

“We have products like raw milk in Uganda which is on high demand in Mauritius because these people depend on powdered milk …Ugandan traders should cash into this market,” said Frank Mwebaze the deputy country director TBDC.

Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde, is expected to open the two day exhibition at Imperial Royal hotel. Mauritius is a member of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa with a gross domestic product per capita of $14,000.