James Odomel and David Muwanga
7 October 2008
Kampala — SECURITY at the 16th Uganda International Trade Fair has been been beefed up with heavy deployment of all security agencies, the manufacturers' chairman has said.
The fair, which kicked off on Monday with good attendance from the public and exhibitors, is expected to attract over 900 exhibitors.
"All security agencies ranging from Police, Internal Security Organisation (ISO), External Security Organisation (ESO), Joint Anti-Terrorism Team (JATT) and the Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) are involved," the Uganda Manufacturers' Association's chairman, James Kalibbala, told a press conference.
Last year, the fair had 817 exhibitors from 31 countries and 170,000 show-goers.
Kalibbala said the fair would provide a forum for global business networking, enabling trade and investment among foreign and local businesspeople to thrive.
He said the participating countries include Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, China, India, Ethiopia, Singapore, Turkey, Taiwan, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, Germany and South Africa.
"There has been an increase in bookings of service companies and institutions for awareness and promotional drives for their programmes," Kalibbala said.
The theme for this year's fair is: "Linking Production to Prospective Markets Through Value-Addition."
"This theme is appropriate and in line with the Government's vision of putting in place varied integrated economic programmes that are geared towards modernisation of agriculture and industrial transformation."
Kalibbala said Uganda's industries can only survive on a viable and robust agricultural sector, especially for raw materials.
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