The Government of Uganda has signed two protocol agreements with the People’s Republic of China with the aim of obtaining markets for wild aquatic products and one on inspection for export of dried chilies from Uganda to China.
The protocols were signed in China where Uganda was represented by the Vice President, Major (Rtd) Jessica Alupo in September.
The wild aquatic products include; Nile perch fillet, headless and gutted Nile perch, fish maw, fish skins, fish scales and silverfish products among others.
This was disclosed to the press at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala by the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Frank Kagyigyi Tumwebaze.
He says that the signing to the protocols is intended to address complaints from those exporting wild aquatic products and dried chilies over difficulties in exporting products to the huge Chinese market of 1.4 billion people.
It’s against this that Tumwebaze advised exporters of wild aquatic products and dried chilies to prepare and use this opportunity which requires those involved in this business to register with the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China.
He now appeals to those intending exporters to formally write to MAAIF expressing interest to export to China such that a pre-audit on export compliance is done and recommend the entities to the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China.
Meanwhile, Minister Tumwebaze appeals to all coffee farmers to embrace the ongoing registration exercise such that the country adheres to the December 30th 2024 deadline set by the European Union.
He also explained that they cannot abandon the European market since it’s a huge market for Ugandan coffee which has been contributing between 11-22% of the country’s foreign exchange in the past 11 years.
It should be recalled that the European Parliament passed a revolution that all coffee that is taken to the European market should be regulated through the European Union Deforestation Regulations and a deadline of December 30th 2024 to enforce it was set.
He explained that they won’t force any coffee farmer to register but if one fails to adhere, they will lose out on the international market for their coffee and remain only with the limited local market in Uganda.
By Olivia Nabaggala
1st Oct 2024
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