Dutch-Funded Initiative to Improve Coffee Exports to EU
The Netherlands Trust Fund has announced plans for a three-year project to support desired improvements in the sustainability of export competitiveness in Uganda’s important coffee industry.
The overarching National Export Strategy, of which the Netherlands Trust Fund II Project forms part, was trigged by the Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB), in association with Uganda’s Coffee Development Authority, in addition to the National Union of Coffee Agribusiness and Farm Enterprises. With funding supplied by the International Trade Centre and the Netherlands’ Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries, the new project seeks to improve the situation surrounding coffee exports destined for the European Union.
In 2010, coffee – Uganda’s most substantial foreign exchange earner – generated Shs638.4 billion for the country’s economy, with UEPB’s Director of Communications hopeful of further building on this success. In his words, Mr Daniel Karibwige, said, "A planned review slated for February 1 aims to expand volumes in order to earn more foreign exchange for the country."
It is hoped that the current Dutch-driven funding initiative will support maintained Ugandan coffee exports, helping the country achieve consistency of supply and hedging itself against market challenges such as the global economic crisis and unforeseen eventualities that might cause fluctuations in trade.
It is anticipated that the lessons learned during the review of Uganda’s coffee export sector will be applied to the other 11 export categories of the wider National Export Strategy, in the second half of the year.