Twenty four Rwandan companies are among hundreds of business firms participating at the 21st International Trade Fair that kicked off in Kampala on Wednesday. The weeklong event held annually is a well-established multi-sectoral trade event that has in the last twenty years provided a unique platform for marketing products and services. Rwandan business people who spoke to The New Times yesterday expressed satisfaction at the organization of the event but said that the turn up of clients was still very slow. “Our biggest aim here is to have a long and sustainable relationship on the Ugandan market,” Martin Gasasira, the Senior Trade Development Officer at Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said. He added that as a result of the trade fair, many Rwandan companies had opened shop in Kampala and many are currently negotiating their entry into the market. To some business men like Herbert Rugaba the Marketing Manager of Trust Industries, it was an opportunity to showcase their products at the trade fair. “From comments we have got so far, many people didn’t know that we make detergents in Rwanda. It’s a great opportunity to show them our quality products,” he said. Anatoli Habimana, the Marketing Manager of Sosoma Industries said that many clients were inquisitive as to how they can access their products in Uganda. Dan Mutezintare, the First Counselor at the Rwanda High Commission in Uganda, encouraged the traders to establish contacts and a network to help market their products. “The exhibitors’ aim here should be to create an atmosphere where clients can have the urge to order for more of their products,” he said. Some of the Rwandan companies at the trade fair include; Inyange Industries, Sosoma Industries, Sulfo industries, Urwibutso, East African Granite industries, Leather Processing Art, and Cooperative Kiaka.
