By David Rupiny
Tens of Ugandan producers of various products have been tipped on how to gain access to the lucrative United States market.
Speaking at an engagement meeting at the Uganda Investment Authority, Esther Psarakis, a U. S. trade expert, urged the producers to develop unique value propositions for their businesses in order to make them stand out and have an edge over producers from other countries.
Psarakis also said Uganda, as a country, should develop her own “Made in Uganda” value proposition that makes its products unique and globally competitive.
She tipped that for the producers to improve access to the U. S. market, they need to ensure that they have business transparency, financial transparency, meet U. S. product standards, demonstrate business stability, have political stability, good business reputation, and avoid negative media and historical portrayal.
Psarakis said since much of coffee imported into U. S. is from Brazil which has been slapped with 50 percent tariff, Uganda, which has a 15 percent tariff imposition, should seize the opportunity to push her high-quality coffee into the U. S. market, taking advantage of the 35 percent tariff difference, to have competitive pricing.
The Deputy Executive Director Standards at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), said for Ugandan producers to meet the product standards in the U. S. they should start with national standards which draw a lot from global standards.
Ejalu also tipped the producers to form export partnerships in order to enjoy the benefits of economy of scale like quality, quantity, and supply consistency, among others.
Board Director of UIA, Dr. Anna Nakanwagi, said Ugandans interested in exporting products to the U. S. and other markets should get the right information and data that are critical for them to have access and a competitive age over exporters from other countries.
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