Ugandan horticultural firms target Swedish market

The Swedish fruit and vegetable market, which is estimated at $1 billion could be the next destination for Ugandan horticultural exports.

The International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR) will assist Ugandan companies to target the market in Sweden. "Sweden is ready to assist Swedish corporations start trading with Ugandan export oriented companies," said Harald von Matern, the programme coordinator for NIR while making a presentation at the Gateway East Africa expert mission presentation to Uganda on August 13 in Kampala.

Horticultural products are one of the non-traditional exports that have been promoted by government for the last five years. The horticultural sector currently contributes about $7 million to total export earnings of more than $2 billion.

Under the programme, five Ugandan small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will send a delegation to Sweden in October to showcase and promote Uganda's agricultural diversity. Ugandan horticultural products have attracted high demand from the European Union market because of their organic nature.

The companies are Reco Industries; Fiona Commodities-fruit Processors; Sulma Foods-fresh fruit; Kampala Domestic Stores, Taimex, and Janet Exclusive Designers.

The companies will also visit Swedish corporations currently doing business in East Africa such as Ericsson, ABB Energy Corporation, and Tetra Pak, among others.

The Monitor