UGANDA – Denmark, through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), has entered a Shillings 16.5 billion (U.S$4.3 million) agreement with TradeMark Africa to enhance Uganda’s trade.
The five-year project, named the Uganda Trade Support Project 2023/2024, focuses on strengthening the government’s export quality management systems to comply with international sanitary standards.
The project aims to address challenges related to climate change, particularly floods affecting the Elegu border, where informal trade is prevalent.
The initiative will support the construction of a climate-resilient, gender- and disability-responsive border market at Elegu to facilitate trade in the region and adapt to extreme weather conditions.
Denmark’s Ambassador to Uganda, Signe Windining Albjerg, highlighted the issues faced by Elegu market traders, especially women engaged in agricultural-related trade.
The project seeks to mitigate losses due to factors such as fire outbreaks and enhance the accreditation of Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) decentralized testing labs. Accreditation will reduce the turnaround time and cost of testing samples for export.
The project aligns with Denmark’s broader commitment to supporting Uganda’s economic transformation, promoting sustainability, and addressing climate challenges.
Denmark has allocated DKK 650 million (U.S$95.5 million) for the period 2023-2028 to back initiatives that contribute to a green, sustainable, and inclusive economic transformation in Uganda.
TradeMark Africa (TMA) will play a crucial role in implementing the project, contributing to increased jobs, improved incomes, food security, and climate resilience of trade infrastructure. The initiative is expected to benefit Uganda’s poor women, men, and youth.
The Executive Director of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Stephen Asiimwe, acknowledged DANIDA’s support, emphasizing its contribution to TMA’s efforts in supporting Uganda’s public and private sectors.
The project aims to enhance the competitiveness of the private sector as Uganda integrates with Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
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