Italy has warned Uganda against the increasingly changing tastes and preferences for foreign-made products especially food, saying it will in the long run affect the economy.
Italian Ambassador to Uganda, Massimiliano Mazzanti says Ugandans, especially the younger population are increasingly going for exotic consumer products, yet similar ones are made in the country.
Uganda’s main exports to Europe are agricultural commodities led by coffee, fruits and vegetables and flowers, while the country also imports food, especially wheat products.
However, Ambassador Mazzanti says Uganda risks increasing her spending on imported food because local production could be affected by a lack of local markets as people prefer foreign products.
He was speaking ahead of the forthcoming International Agricultural and Gardening Machinery Exhibition due to take place in Bologna, Italy in November.
He also implored Uganda to intensify its quality improvement campaign in production beyond coffee, if it is to be competitive enough in the European markets. Ambassador Mazzanti speaking…….
The Ambassador said Uganda has many products that Europe needs but that they will always be blocked from the region for as long as they do not comply with the required EU standards. END
