JKasuku255
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 14, 2018
- 228
- 148
First time in history: How Uganda got a surplus balance of trade with Kenya
The Independent November 2, 2018 Business, News Leave a comment
Uganda’s Trade Minister Kyambadde addresses the Sector Review on Wednesday. PHOTO @mtic_uganda
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives is celebrating this year’s export figures, as for the first time in history, Uganda had a favorable balance of trade with Kenya.
Bank of Uganda (BoU) figures indicate that in the Financial Year 2017/18, Uganda had a trade surplus of $122.78 million with Kenya (Exports of $628.47 million against Imports of $505.70 million).
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) earlier in the year noted the development in a January-May report, stating that Maize imports from Uganda had played a significant part in the change of fortune.
Uganda also registered a record highest trade balance in the East African Community (EAC) region of $413.86 million (Exports of $1,220.63 million against Imports of $806.77 million), in the same period.
The trade surplus figures were some of the highlights at this year’s annual sector review at Hotel Africana, Kampala on Wednesday. Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Amelia Kyambadde read out the report, but said despite the big leap in trade balance with Kenya, overall Uganda’s trade deficit grew.
“During the Financial Year under review 2017/18, Uganda’s exports increased by 7.23%, to US$ 2.89 billion from the previous Financial Year 2016/17 of US$ 2.696 billion. Imports also increased by 16.42%, to US$ 5.48 billion from the previous Financial Year 206/17of US$ 4.71 billion,” Kyambadde said, adding that, ” A number of interventions have been made to address the country’s widening trade deficit.”
On the trade deficit, she said that inspite of the challenges, the Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Sector has registered a number of achievements in the area of trade facilitation, export promotion, value addition, cooperative development. “Many of these interventions are geared towards enhancing the capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),” she said.
The theme of this year’s sector review was “Enhancing Competitiveness of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises for National Export Development”.
The Independent November 2, 2018 Business, News Leave a comment
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives is celebrating this year’s export figures, as for the first time in history, Uganda had a favorable balance of trade with Kenya.
Bank of Uganda (BoU) figures indicate that in the Financial Year 2017/18, Uganda had a trade surplus of $122.78 million with Kenya (Exports of $628.47 million against Imports of $505.70 million).
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) earlier in the year noted the development in a January-May report, stating that Maize imports from Uganda had played a significant part in the change of fortune.
Uganda also registered a record highest trade balance in the East African Community (EAC) region of $413.86 million (Exports of $1,220.63 million against Imports of $806.77 million), in the same period.
The trade surplus figures were some of the highlights at this year’s annual sector review at Hotel Africana, Kampala on Wednesday. Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Amelia Kyambadde read out the report, but said despite the big leap in trade balance with Kenya, overall Uganda’s trade deficit grew.
“During the Financial Year under review 2017/18, Uganda’s exports increased by 7.23%, to US$ 2.89 billion from the previous Financial Year 2016/17 of US$ 2.696 billion. Imports also increased by 16.42%, to US$ 5.48 billion from the previous Financial Year 206/17of US$ 4.71 billion,” Kyambadde said, adding that, ” A number of interventions have been made to address the country’s widening trade deficit.”
On the trade deficit, she said that inspite of the challenges, the Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Sector has registered a number of achievements in the area of trade facilitation, export promotion, value addition, cooperative development. “Many of these interventions are geared towards enhancing the capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),” she said.
The theme of this year’s sector review was “Enhancing Competitiveness of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises for National Export Development”.