The 21st Uganda International Trade Fair (UGITF) was held in Kampala at Lugogo Show Ground during the period October 3 – 10, 2013. The fair was officially opened by the Vice President of Uganda, H.E Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi on October 4, 2013. The theme of the trade fair was "Accelerating Trade and Industrial Growth."
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa – Leather and Leather Products Institute (COMESA-LLPI) in collaboration with the Footwear and Leather Goods Manufacturers and Exporters and Association (FLEMEA) of Uganda has supported nineteen SME's (two from Ethiopia and seventeen from Uganda) involved in the leather sector by renting a total of 180 m2 stall area in the exhibition center. The objective of allowing SMEs to participate in such a Trade Fair is to enable them create market linkage among the participants and creating grounds to sale their products.
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Table 1 : List of Participants of the 21st Uganda International Trade Fair Supported by COMESA-LLPI |
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No |
Name of SME |
Country |
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1 |
Big Leather Uganda LTD |
Uganda |
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2 |
Web Shoes |
Uganda |
|
3 |
Bobbie Leathers |
Uganda |
|
4 |
TCFC Crane Shoes |
Uganda |
|
5 |
Mzuri Leather Goods |
Uganda |
|
6 |
Zigaphat Leather Crafts |
Uganda |
|
7 |
African Footwear |
Uganda |
|
8 |
OB Shoes |
Uganda |
|
9 |
Sseko Designs |
Uganda |
|
10 |
BA Ishaka Shoe Center |
Uganda |
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11 |
JK Leather Crafts |
Uganda |
|
12 |
African Stride Sandals |
Uganda |
|
13 |
KALEPPA (Katwe Association) |
Uganda |
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14 |
Mukoko Investments |
Uganda |
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15 |
Agaba Shoe Makers |
Uganda |
|
16 |
Shoe warehouse |
Uganda |
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17 |
Buffalo Footwear |
Uganda |
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18 |
Yezichalem Meaza Leather |
Ethiopia |
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19 |
Ethio-International Footwear Cluster Cooperative Society LTD (EIFCCOS) |
Ethiopia |
Participants of the Fair came with different leather products with different designs. Therefore, many exhibitors have taken advantage of the Fair to see different ways of doing leather goods.
Besides to this, most people in Uganda are not aware even that footwear and other leather goods can be made locally and even in Africa. And the trade fair has also created awareness about the status of leather sector in Uganda in particular and in Africa in general.
Except those enterprises who brought only sample products, most enterprises have sold many of their products.
Most enterprises involving in the leather sector in Uganda do import most of the inputs from other countries. With this regards, the leather fair has created many opportunities to Ugandan and Ethiopian Enterprises to make market linkages, specially, in finished leather supply, footwear supply, machinery supply, leather bags, soles, and other accessories. The following are some of the market linkages made during the fair.
· Boots Africa Ltd to supply finished leather and Soles to most Enterprises participating the Fair;
· EIFCCOS to open a shop in Kampala;
· Bobbie Leather to Sub-contract a footwear order to Ethiopian Manufacturers;
COMESA-Leather and Leather Products Institute (COMESA-LLPI) was represented by one of its Experts, Mr. Awlachew Sintie, Information System Expert.