The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
This comes as the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation (FederUnacoma), is in the final stages of organizing this year’s International Agricultural and Gardening Machinery Exhibition (EIMA International) in Bologna in November.
The federation in conjunction with the Italian government is selecting some companies in Uganda which will be invited as guests at the exhibition that is expected to feature some 2,000 companies.
This move is aimed at attracting more Ugandan interest in Italian machinery for agriculture, according to the organisers led by Fabio Ricci, Deputy Director General of FederUnacoma.
The international exhibition is aimed at showcasing the new trends in the agricultural equipment industry by Italy, which claims to be the 6th largest supplier in the world.
Commercial agriculturalists and distributors of equipment in Uganda complained about the near-absence of the European giant in Uganda over the last few decades, shown by the low visibility of Italian equipment on the Ugandan market.
Others complained about the high prices of products from Italy as well as the long time it takes to deliver equipment after an order has been made, compared to ordering from another country, especially from Asia.
He also advised the prospective buyers to take advantage of the financial services that have been put in place to help importers acquire Italian products, including outright credit and hire purchases.
Ricci explained that the delivery delays were common starting about four years ago because of the global shocks that included COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, which have disrupted the logistics industry and supply chains.
However, he says, the effects of these shocks have been largely overcome and that most companies have stabilised their operations.
He says that in the long run, they become cheaper and yet give a higher rate of return than those got from the other countries.
On what Italy is doing to restore its economic relevance in Uganda, Mauro Massoni, Italy’s new ambassador to Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi based in Kampala, pointed at the recent meeting between Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni where the two discussed trade.
Massoni also said they are increasing investments in health and agriculture, particularly dairy.
Uganda’s exports to Italy are worth between 120 and 150 million dollars annually, with coffee accounting for more than 80 percent of this, and others being cut flowers and fish and fish products.
It is also the main consumer of Uganda’s coffee, taking 45 percent of the exported product.
On the other hand, Italy’s exports to Uganda are estimated to be worth 57 million dollars in 2023, dominated by machinery and pharmaceutical equipment and medicines.
Ambassador Massoni says Uganda has what it takes to be a world player in production and trade but that it needs a little more on technology, transport connectivity to the world and marketing because it is not known despite the enormous resources.
EIMA International is one of the largest exhibitions in the world in the field of agricultural mechanics with the largest range of products from tractors, to tillage and sowing equipment, crop protection, harvesting, milk transportation and livestock feeding machinery.
The Ugandan companies that grace the event will have the opportunity to interact with almost 2,000 exhibitors from 40 countries, as well as 80 foreign delegations featuring in more than 10,000 Business-to-Business meetings.
