Kampala, Uganda: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in charge of Regional Affairs, Hon Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, has called for increased investment in coffee value addition as Uganda seeks to strengthen its position in international markets.
Kasolo made the remarks on Tuesday after visiting JBER Coffee Ltd, an export-oriented enterprise contributing to Uganda’s coffee sector through value addition and access to international markets.
The minister said Uganda has immense potential to consolidate its position as a leading coffee-producing and exporting country, but added that greater emphasis should be placed on processing and delivering high-quality products to global consumers.
“Uganda has immense potential to strengthen its position as a leading coffee-producing and exporting country,” Kasolo said.
He said visits to local enterprises involved in coffee processing and exports reinforce the importance of supporting businesses that add value to Ugandan agricultural products before they reach international markets.
Kasolo said a stronger value-addition chain would create greater opportunities for farmers while contributing to the wider economy through expanded exports, enterprise development and job creation.
“Visits such as this reaffirm the importance of supporting local enterprises to process, add value and export quality Ugandan coffee to global markets, while creating greater opportunities for farmers and the wider economy,” he said.
The minister stressed that Uganda’s ambition should go beyond increasing the volume of coffee produced. “Our coffee must increasingly be known not only for the volumes we produce, but for the quality and value we deliver to the world,” Kasolo said.
The emphasis on international markets is particularly relevant to Kasolo’s current Regional Affairs portfolio, which places him within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a time when Uganda is seeking to deepen regional economic cooperation and improve market access for Ugandan products.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has identified regional cooperation as an important avenue for strengthening Uganda’s economic diplomacy and opening markets for local producers and exporters.
Kasolo’s visit to JBER Coffee therefore also comes against the backdrop of efforts to connect Uganda’s producers and processors to regional and international markets.
The government has increasingly promoted agro-processing and value addition as part of its broader strategy to increase household incomes, create employment and earn more from Uganda’s agricultural exports.
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