The Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja expressed her appreciation for handcraft makers while serving as the Chief Guest at the Uganda Handicrafts Expo 2022 on Thursday at the Uganda Museum in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb.
She also commended the Geneva-based Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) for providing a grant to Uganda to advance the project, noting that the assistance had improved the quality of Ugandan handicrafts and souvenirs and the promotion of the country as a tourist destination on a local, regional, and international market.
“Uganda’s tourism sector is developing at the appropriate time and needs prompt intervention,” she stated. In the comprehensive National Development Planning Framework, which includes Vision 2040 and the NDP III, tourism is acknowledged as a crucial primary growth program with significant potential to support and accelerate Uganda’s transformation agenda. The plans prioritize domestic tourist marketing through cultural, regional cluster projects, and national events, consequently fostering youth and women’s entrepreneurship and employment in the cultural and creative industries, she continued.
The Three day Expo taking place from November 24 – 26, 2022, at the Uganda Museum under the theme “Rethinking Tourism through Culture and Creative Hands,” is hosted to present a rare opportunity for the people involved in the business to meet new clients, network, and discuss business opportunities with potential local and regional purchasers as stakeholders in the handicraft and souvenir sector come together, including service providers along the sector’s value chain.
The ultimate focus of this year’s Expo is to assist in the creation of valuable goods that are in demand in both the domestic and international markets. As well, the diversification of products, increased value addition, quality improvement, and market knowledge will all be highlighted in interventions.
Hon. Tom Butime, the minister for tourism, wildlife, and antiquities, disclosed during the expo that encouraging the handicrafts and souvenir industry will help expand exports and reduce the trade imbalance, which is a significant obstacle to Uganda’s development.
The project, he continued, “complements our main initiatives as a ministry in promoting tourism, wildlife conservation, and cultural heritage conservation for socio-economic development and country transformation.” It has directly aided in the creation and export of genuine Ugandan souvenirs to both domestic and foreign tourists, as well as enhanced import substitution in this sector.
The three-year project for MTWA aimed at supporting producers, particularly women and youth, especially through capacity building, packaging, and marketing.
The handicraft and souvenir development project (HSDP) is funded by the enhanced integrated framework (EIF) and implemented by the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities.
This year’s Expo’s main goal is to support the production of beneficial products in demand in domestic and global markets. Interventions will also emphasize the diversity of products, enhanced value addition, quality improvement, and market awareness.
During the Expo, the general public attested to the authenticity of a variety of products made in Uganda, including mats, bags, wood carvings, ceramics, jewellery, fashion accessories, textiles, cow horn products, leather products, music instruments, baskets, bark cloth products, coffee, leather products, horticulture, and tourism, among others, and produced in particular by Ugandan artisans.
The Expo also giving producers a fair deal and opportunity to present their goods, create awareness of the various crafts and souvenirs produced in the country, and create linkages with new clients like exporters, mass producers, training facilities, the hospitality industry, and interior decorators, among others.
The schedule for the Uganda Handicrafts Expo 2022 includes a variety of symposiums, exhibitions, contests, and events focused on design. Participants in this event will gain visibility by frequently appearing in the local and, when possible, international media.
Topics to be covered during the Expo’s duration include the contribution of culture to Uganda’s economy, branding and marketing, value addition in the handicraft and souvenir industry, e-commerce in the industry, business registration and legalisation, standardisation and quality assurance, and financing for the sector.
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