Young startups and agribusinesses at biggest Ugandan trade fair
Twenty young Ugandan entrepreneurs, including five women-led agribusinesses, presented their innovative products and sustainable solutions during the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) International Trade Fair in Kampala at two dedicated booths with live demonstrations.
Representing startups and agribusinesses from across various sectors such as technology and cosmetics, the small businesses are part of the Youth Startup Academy Uganda (YSAU) and the Strengthening Agribusiness Resilience and Competitiveness (STAR) project, both implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and funded by the Republic of Korea.
The biggest trade event in Uganda with over 1,000 exhibitors from dozens of countries and thousands of daily visitors and running this year from 3 to 10 October, serves as an ideal platform for businesses to connect with potential investors, mentors, and partners from across the regions.
H.E. Sung-soo Park, the Korean Ambassador to Uganda was impressed by the youth’s ingenuity and determination and at the event on 6 October, interacted with each startup by offering words of inspiration and wisdom, underscoring their potential for international markets.
The businesses’ participation emphasizes mentorship, funding, and access to resources for empowering young entrepreneurs and guiding them towards sustainable success. YSAU and STAR are dedicated to enhancing the institutional support for Ugandan small businesses and producers, strengthening the nation's entrepreneurial spirit.
About YSAU
The YSAU is a project funded by the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups Korea and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with Hive Colab and the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U). The overall project objective is to contribute to increasing youth employment in Uganda. The project aims to improve the startup ecosystem for young entrepreneurs in Uganda which will drive innovation and job creation in the region.
About STAR
STAR is a project funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC). The STAR project is a multi-year project that has been designed to enhance the natural disaster resilience and competitiveness of agribusinesses and smallholder farmers in Northern and Northeastern Uganda.
