Kampala — Ugandan business people have been advised to keep quality at the forefront of their strategies to make it easier for them access regional and worldwide markets.

Trade and industry minister, Amelia Kyambadde was launching the Market- Linked Alumni last week in Kampala.

"It is important that as we manufacture and trade, we do not forget to keep quality at the forefront of our strategies. We would want to be known in the region and the world over as a source of quality products," Kyambadde said.

She said maintenance of quality and standards is one of the ways Ugandan products can improve competitiveness throughout the world. For this reason, she applauded the Uganda Export Promotion Board and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards for their efforts so far.

"I thank the management and technical staff of the Uganda Export Promotion Board, for implementing such export development interventions and for organizing this get together. I urge and commend that you maintain this partnership for the benefit our business communities, especially the export sector," she said.

She also said a word of appreciation for research institutes such as the Uganda Research Institute and companies like Nutreal Limited East African Basic Foods, among others for adding value and producing competitive products.

Over 70% of Uganda's working population today is employed by SMEs while the government employs less than 500,000 people in public service.

The Market- Linked programme is supposed to help unlock and bridge gaps in the regional market for sellers to exploit