36 , Monday, December 23, 2016 ADVERTISER SUPPLEMENT Roofi ngs scoops exporter award By Faridah Kulabako

Metal and steel manufacturing fi rm, Roofi ngs Group, was crowned the exporter of the year for 2016. East Africa’s largest steel manufacturer scooped the award at the 12th President’s Export Awards event held at Imperial Royale Hotel, in on December 8. Roofi ngs was commended for its role in boosting regional exports despite the economic challenges, in addition to boosting the local construction industry through forward and backward linkages. The awards organised by the Export Promotions Board sought to recognise the achievements of companies that continue to work towards a vibrant and dynamic export sector of the economy. John Alintuma Nsambu was awarded the best export ambassador for promoting the development of Uganda’s exports in Canada through creating a framework in which the Uganda export promotions Board is working with one of the premier global trade institutions to support Ugandan fi rms ! to easily connect with the !"#$%& buyers in Canada. (URA), Uganda Investment stakeholder and policy Gold winners Authority (UIA), Uganda THIS HAS NOT BEEN makers to devise solutions so The awards recognised a total Industrial Research Institute as to boost exports in order to of 46 exporting companies (UIRI) and Ministry of Trade, attain middle income status from 23 categories with Gold Industry and Co-operatives. AN EASY YEAR, BUT by 2020. and Silver awards. Basing on the export value, Among the challenges Gold Winners included Nile judges chose the best BECAUSE OF OUR shared were costly and Breweries Limited (Spirits exporter in each category. unreliable electricity, high and Alcohol Beverages), In a speech read for him by QUALITY WE HAVE cost of credit, poor road Tororo Cement (Cement), Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana infrastructure and low Picfare (Paper and Paper Rugunda, President Yoweri STOOD OUT. WE productivity among others. Products), Movit Limited Museveni asked fi nancial (Cosmetics), Wagagai (U) services providers to institute WOULD LIKE TO THANK Grand winners speak Ltd (Flowers and Cuttings), measures to increase the According Sikander Lalani, of banked population so as to the Roofi ngs Group chairman, Companies (Edible Oils) and mobilise more savings and OUR CUSTOMERS FOR 2015/2016 was a challenging Pearl Dairies Ltd (Dairy and facilitate faster economic year for the still industry in Products). development. SUPPORTING US — the region. “This has not been Others were Aponye (U) This, he said, is intended an easy year, but because of Ltd (Cereals, Pulses and to enable the Government SIKALNDER our quality we have stood out. Valued Added products), access funds to address We would like to thank our Ugacof Ltd (Coffee), Esco bottlenecks in the economy, customers for supporting us,” (U) Ltd (Cocoa), MC Leod including underdeveloped Museveni said. efforts in constructing power Export - to attain middle he said. Russels Uganda Ltd (Tea), infrastructure, inadequate He said this will boost dams, saying that stable income status. The week Meanwhile, Roofi ngs Group Sadolin (Paints Products), human capital development productivity and exports, thus power is vital in supporting was fundamentally aimed executive director Oliver KK Fresh Produce Exporters and insuffi cient small markets increase earning from the the growth of an export-led at creating local awareness Lalani attributed the win to Ltd (Horticultural), The New to facilitate faster growth and current $3b (sh10.8 trillion) manufacturing sector. on export business and the continued quality production Forest Company Ltd (Wood attain middle income status posted last year. Trade Minister Amelia sector as a whole. and good customer relations. and Wood Articles), Harris by 2020. The Uganda Export Kyambadde urged Ugandan Several events were held, Last year, Roofi ngs exported International (Non-Alcoholic Museveni said effective Promotion Board executive businesses to increase including an export walk, products amounting to over Beverages). modes of transport such as director, Elly Twineyo said exports to close the trade exhibition, export clinics and $40m (sh142b). quality roads, railways, ports Uganda needs to devise ways defi cit which stands at about the president’s export award Their main export products Criteria and air transport are crucial of growing her exports to $2.5b (sh8.95 trillion). gala, running from December are; iron sheets, which To participate in the boosting productivity and meet the $8b (sh28.7 trillion) She noted that 5 to 9, at the Uganda account for 60% of all their competition, companies had enable entrepreneurs move that the Government targets promoting value addition, Manufacturers Association exports. Other products are to have exported in the year their products to market in a to earn from exports by 2020. recapitalisation of the conference hall and gardens. nails, hollow sections, TMT 2015. They were then taken secure and timely manner. Twineyo decried Uganda’s Uganda Development Bank, It started off with an export bar products, binding, razor through a vetting process, The other bottlenecks low export performance, capitalisation of Uganda walk from Centenary Park to barbed wires, chain links, done by a team of competent that have to be addressed compared to imports, which Development Corporation, UMA Conference Hall. fl at sheets, plates among judges from the different are the low contribution of he said causes a huge trade establishment of border During the week, different others. Oliver Lalani says government agencies that manufacturing to the national imbalance. export zones and establishing export clinics on fruits and their products are mainly sold support and facilitate exports. economy, subsistence nature Uganda’s exported goods the micro, small and medium vegetables, manufactured in the East Africa and DR These included Uganda of agriculture, low value worth $3b (sh10.7 trillion) enterprises department, will goods, fi sh and fi sh products, Congo. National Bureau of Standards addition and corruption. in 2015, down from $3.14 boost production for both cereals and pulses were held, “Rwanda is one of our main (UNBS), National Planning “We need to end the slavery (sh11.2 trillion) in 2014, local and export markets. with players sharing ideas markets, we also have South Authority (NPA), Ministry of of exporting raw materials. compared to an import bill of and devising ways on how to Sudan, but because of the Agriculture, Private Sector We need to focus on value $5.5b (sh19.7 trillion) in 2015. Export Week boost exports. confl ict there, our sales have Foundation Uganda (Psfu), addition and industrialisation Twineyo, however, The 2016 Export Week was An export conference was fallen by about 50%,” Oliver Uganda Revenue Authority to transform the economy,” applauded the Government’s organised under the theme also held, bringing together Lalani said.