Workshop: Leveraging exports for growth in Uganda

Engaging in international trade enables firms to grow faster, by facilitating improved supply of inputs, increasing competition in final goods markets, and expanding market access. Even though Uganda exports less than average for other countries at its per capita income, export growth over the last 20 years has been relatively rapid and with considerable diversification. This has largely been driven by regional integration, in particular with the East African Community (EAC) customs union.

The ‘Leveraging exports for growth in Uganda’ workshop  held in Kampala on 19 May 2022  provided an opportunity to discuss two IGC-funded studies with policymakers. Aleksandar Stojanov (World Bank) presented his study of Uganda’s participation in international and regional trade, which provides backwards-looking evidence on how Uganda’s trade has evolved over the last 20 years, identifying pressing challenges as well as potential opportunities. Professor Lawrence Edwards (University of Cape Town) presented his study of the impact of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on Uganda’s trade.