District commercial officers have been urged to spearhead the collection of key trade data on the private sector and to identify key areas of competitive advantage to enhance national productivity.
Trade minister Amelia Kyambadde
This is part of a three year $3m (sh7.8b) District Commercial Services Support Project (DICOSS) that links district commercial officers at the grass roots with the ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives in 25 districts.
Amelia Kyambadde, the trade minister noted that district commercial offi cers have a direct role to play in poverty eradication and service delivery at the grass roots.
“This will create a framework for local governments to integrate central government policy. Its high time district commercial officers came up with results. We need data on commercial entities in districts,” she said. “Other districts can benefit from this.”
Kyambadde made the comments at a two-day networking seminar at Hotel Africana where district commercial officers compared notes and exchanged vital tips on how to develop key areas of competitive advantage.
The trade minister urged the Uganda Export Promotions Board and the Uganda Investment Authority to work closely with district commercial offi cers to boost local investment and exports.
The DICOSS project is receiving funding from the World Bank and the trade ministry through the second Trade Capacity Enhancement Project.
The project selected two districts in the West Nile region, five in northern Uganda, seven in the east, six in central, and five from the west.
Frank Sebowa, the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) boss noted that districts should waive investment fees and substitute them with smaller and regular development levies as this will attract investment and increase local revenues.
“Ugandan firms should take advantage of the oil and gas sector by competing in the smaller areas that support the industry. We can compete favourably and make more money through better practices such as packaging agricultural produce,” he noted.
The UIA is decentralising its services by working through the district commercial officers. District Investment Committees have been reestablished.
Henry Nyakoojo, a DICOSS project officer noted that districts have to compete among themselves to attract both local and foreign investment as exports to eastern Congo, south Sudan and Rwanda.
“Local businesses should be encouraged to formalise. The Uganda Revenue Authority cannot tax you unfairly when you have records. Deal with the URA openly, not under the table,” he said.
Charles Ocici, the Enterprise Uganda boss urged the officers to ensure that their residents are trustworthy and reliable so as to beat the competition.
By Samuel Sanya, The New Vision
