Africa-Press – Uganda. Enterprise Uganda, in partnership with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), has rolled out an intensive export readiness training programme aimed at equipping Ugandan entrepreneurs to penetrate the European market.
The initiative has brought together about 100 selected business operators, focusing on building the practical skills required to meet international standards, particularly within the European Union.
According to Enterprise Uganda Director General Charles Ocici, participants were carefully chosen based on their operational experience and potential to scale into export markets.
“This is not for beginners. These are entrepreneurs who have been in business but now need to move from the ‘junior league’ to the ‘premier league’ of global trade,” Ocici said.
The training is structured in smaller groups to allow deeper engagement, with modules covering contract management, litigation, compliance with international trade standards, access to finance, and export-focused business planning.
International trade experts are facilitating sessions on contract negotiation and credit protection, while compliance training focuses on navigating trade barriers, particularly within the EU. Additional sessions address financing strategies and the development of bankable business plans.
Andrea Carapellese emphasized that the programme represents a shift in Italy’s engagement with Uganda’s private sector, marking the first time the Italian government is directly funding a project of this scale targeting entrepreneurs.
“We are taking a bottom-up approach—working directly with entrepreneurs to understand their needs and build practical, impactful solutions. The success of this project will depend on the businesses themselves,” Carapellese said.
The training forms part of a broader three-year programme that will include ongoing workshops across the country, covering areas such as marketing, intellectual property, and global trade dynamics.
Ocici noted that beyond production capacity, Uganda’s export challenges are largely behavioral and operational—particularly around trust, consistency, and adherence to standards.
“In export markets, trust is everything. If you commit to delivering 1,000 kilograms, it must be exactly that—no compromises on quantity or quality. Contracts are not suggestions; they are binding commitments,” he said.
He added that inconsistent supply and failure to meet agreed standards continue to undermine the competitiveness of local businesses in international markets.
The programme also emphasizes product presentation, packaging, and branding—areas where many Ugandan enterprises struggle despite having high-quality goods.
“Your product may be good, but how it is presented matters. Packaging, labeling, and overall presentation can determine whether a product competes effectively on the global stage,” Ocici added.
Participants are further being guided on accessing affordable financing, building partnerships in destination markets, and understanding consumer expectations abroad.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Uganda’s export value chain—from production to delivery—while positioning the country as a reliable trading partner in markets such as Italy and the wider European Union.
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