Ugandan agribusiness and ICT companies have received specialized training aimed at helping them access European markets through a program supported by the Italian government.
The five-day training, known as Lab Innova for Africa, was organized by the Italian Trade Agency and held at Onomo Hotel in Kampala.
The program targeted leading Ugandan companies seeking to expand their products and services beyond local markets.
While closing the training, State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi urged Ugandan entrepreneurs, particularly young people, to strengthen branding, marketing and business practices in order to compete globally.
He said improving the business skills of entrepreneurs would help Uganda increase exports to European markets, especially Italy.
“Our trade with Italy is close to 300 million euros every year. But so far, what we buy from Italy is about 170 million euros, while Uganda sells to Italy about 130 million euros. We want to balance the trade and even increase Uganda’s exports,” Barugahara said.
According to the minister, Uganda produces high-quality agricultural products such as coffee and millet which can gain stronger recognition internationally if producers focus on quality standards, branding and market positioning.
Italy’s Ambassador to Uganda, Mauro Massoni, said the initiative is intended to strengthen trade relations between the two countries while building the export capacity of African businesses.
He described agriculture as the backbone of Uganda’s economy and said supporting farmers and agribusiness companies to access international markets is key to economic growth.
Massoni noted that although Uganda produces some of the best agricultural products, many exporters struggle to enter European markets due to strict regulations and limited knowledge of international trade standards.
Participants in the training also welcomed the initiative, saying it provided practical skills on export standards, product quality, sorting, packaging and cold storage.
Christine Businje, founder of Kodi Foods Uganda, said the training helped her understand how farmers can prepare their products for international markets.
“The biggest challenge for many farmers in Uganda is finding markets for their produce. This training has broadened my understanding of how to access international markets,” she said.
Organizers said the Lab Innova program, which has been running since 2019, has trained more than 700 African companies seeking to expand into European markets.
They believe the initiative will help Ugandan businesses strengthen export readiness, build international partnerships and increase the visibility of Uganda’s agricultural products globally.
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