Uganda to increase its coffee exports to the Middle East states by 1.5m bags, says UCDA
UGANDA – Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), the country’s leading coffee agency targets an increase in coffee exports to the Middle East through export promotions.
According to UCDA statistics, coffee exports to the Middle East is 217,519 bags of 60 kg which constitute 2.10% of total coffee exports in FY 2020/21.
After attending this year’s Expo in Dubai, UCDA’s target is to export 1.5m more bags to the Middle East states.
According to the United Nations Com Trade database on international trade updated on October 2021, Uganda’s export for coffee, tea, mate and spices to United Arab Emirates was US$1.51 million in 2020.
Doreen Rweihangwe, Ag. Director Quality and Regulatory Services said, the 2021 Expo is an opportunity to deepen the penetration of Uganda coffee in the UAE market in the Middle East in general.
She said that Uganda’s coffee stall did well at the ongoing Dubai Expo.
“Our target is to export 1.5 million bags of coffee in the Middle East by 2025 because we have done it before in the Milan Expo in 2015 when India was dominating the Italian market. By April 2020, Uganda displaced India in exporting coffee to Italy,” She explained.
This was revealed during the 2020 Dubai Expo which is underway in United Arab Emirates, where Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) among the participants.
The Dubai Expo 2020 is a World Expo, currently hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
Originally scheduled for 20th October,2020 to 10th April, 2021; it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 192 Countries, including Uganda, are participating in this year’s World Trade Expo that stretches for about 182 days under the theme: Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.
In another statement shared on Twitter, UCDA says Uganda has been categorized in the opportunity group and is keen on conquering the UAE market.
“UCDA will take the opportunity of having one of the best quality coffee globally to deepen the entry in Middle East market,” reads UCDA’s tweet.
Hon Chris Baryomunsi, the ICT-Minister, also tweeted that the 2020 Dubai expo is Uganda’s opportunity to penetrate the investment opportunities.
He however lashed at the country’s critics saying, the government’s target audience is the foreigners who are happy with Uganda’s display.
Also, Edward Kazire, the proprietor of Kazire products while meeting potential partners at the expo, tweeted that he intends to export natural drinks and herbal pharmaceutical drugs to the Middle East.
Besides the government delegations, the Private Sector was also considered under Presidential CEOs’ Forum (PCF), a newly created umbrella aimed at linking the private sector leadership.
A total of 24 CEOs from corporate institutions among other government executives with the aim of contributing to the National Development Agenda were considered to represent Uganda’s pavilion.
The private companies which represented Uganda include; Kazire Health Products, Uganda Manufacturers Association, Numa Feeds LTD, UgaChick Poultry Breeders LTD, Nile Plastic Industries, Private Sector Forum, Steel and Tube Industries LTD among others.
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