Chambers of Commerce from across East Africa and their business members are being offered an opportunity to develop trade and commercial ties at a Global Trade Forum set to take place in Kampala on 18 June at Serena Hotel.
Olive Kigongo, the president of Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI)
Olive Kigongo, President, Uganda National Chamber of Commerce (UNCCI) who also serves as Vice-Chair of the East Africa Business Council said that chambers in East Africa have much to benefit from developing their partnerships with chambers worldwide.
“The Forum will help create new business opportunities and influence public policies across the EAC business community, improving the business environment and also helping chambers better understand the important value-added services that they provide in achieving economic development in their communities,” she said.
Organized by the UNCCI, the Global Trade Forum will offer a chance for participants to foster institutional connections with their peers from around the world.
As well as an extensive B2B business matching programme, the event will also provide international chamber and business delegates with a platform to engage with high-level decision makers on the region’s wide range of trade and investment opportunities.
“Helping our Africa chamber colleagues benefit from the global network is a key part of the World Chambers Federation’s three-year strategy,” said WCF Chair Peter Mihok. “This event in Kampala is just the first of several actions planned for the region.”
A keynote address will be made by Maria Kiwanuka, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, with other speakers including Allen Kagina, Commissioner General, Uganda Revenue Authority (on the East African Community Customs Union); Frank Sebbowa, Executive Director, Uganda Investment Authority; and Richard Sezibera, Secretary General, East African Community (EAC).
WCF is a unique and truly global forum uniting the global network of 12,000 chambers and helping individual chambers to become more productive and strengthen links among them. A non-political, non-governmental body, WCF is the backbone of the chamber community, uniting the global network chambers and their business communities.
It also helps individual chambers to become more productive, while strengthening links among them. From managing the ATA Carnet system, which allows for the duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods, to the World Chambers Network (WCN) Chamber Directory, WCF offers a wide range of products and services to help chambers deliver the best possible service to their respective members.
WCF provides a platform for chamber leaders to communicate and collaborate with each other on matters of mutual interest and helps establish beneficial partnerships.
Every two years, WCF stages the World Chambers Congress, one of the most anticipated events in the chamber calendar.
WCF also works with other private sector groups to extend programmes of assistance and training for chambers of commerce, particularly from developing and least developed countries.
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A communiqué from Anthony Parkes, Director at World Chamber Federation (WCF) says WCF will convene a special roundtable session and hold a meeting of the WCF Executive Committee one day before the Forum. The WCF roundtable will feature chamber leaders from East Africa who will present the challenges and opportunities of their organizations in their respective countries.