Kampala — THE Government has written a national trade policy to make trade easier and eradicate poverty in the country.

Trade state minister Nelson Gagawala Wambuzi said lack of such a policy had frustrated many people in the rural areas from engaging in business.

He added that the policy was also aimed at eliminating the obstacles to trade so that every person can freely join or get out of the system besides building the capacity to produce quality goods and services competitively.

"We are looking at five million homes being part of the private sector. Every home can be engaged in both commercial and domestic trade since the markets are available."

The minister was on Friday addressing the parliamentary committee on trade, tourism and industry during a consultative meeting on the policy at the Imperial Resort Hotel in Entebbe.

He said imports had been growing faster than exports, resulting into a wide trade imbalance.

The new policy, stated Wambuzi, would provide a good environment for the private sector to produce and trade competitively.