East African Business Week

Kampala, Uganda -- Uganda is  stepping up the establishment of border markets from the initial 8 to 17 in a bid to increase the volume of trade through the entry points.
The cross border trading points will include Bibiya in the border of Uganda and Sudan, Mpondwe in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) , Rakai in Tanzania border and Katuna on the Rwanda, Uganda border.
They are expected to improve regional and international trade through provision of quality products. 
Of the four potential sites Bibia is the one of the markets Government wishes to prioritise given the scale of cross border trade between Uganda and southern Sudan. Government's intention is to develop the infrastructure at the sites and establish partnerships with the private sector to develop them.
Initially, trade between Uganda and the booming Southern Sudan market, has been predominantly informal by traders who transport produce from long distances through the difficult terrain to access the market. No data of trade volumes has been recorded . But the Ministry of Trade and Industry says the establishment of the border markets will encourage local production within the border areas.
"Besides establishing these border markets, the government is also planning to build warehouses with a storage capacity of 5,000 tonnes within the countryside to serve as stores for agricultural produce," says Ambassador Julius Onen, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Trade.
Speaking during a training session for district commercial officers on how to integrate trade into district development process in Kampala last week, Onen said so far Shs800 million ($400,000) has been earmarked for the establishment of the four main markets.
The move comes at a time when the trade in produce is booming between Uganda and southern Sudan.  
The Bibiya auction market on the Sudan border is expected to benefit both buyers and sellers and local traders from Adjumani, Gulu and Kitgum areas
According to the ministry of Trade, the markets will be established in the 2011/12 Financial Year.
An auction market for the local community is hoped to stimulate interest amongst the community and serve as a catalyst for further developments.
Faced with no single document to guide the country in trade activities, Uganda set up a National Trade Policy (NTP).
The government blue print on trade development, charges government with the primary role of eliminating barriers to trade and providing an enabling environment so that the private sector will thrive and produce quality goods and services.  
Silver Ojakol, the Commissioner External Trade Ministry of trade and Industry, says the desire to formulate and consolidate the NTP, arose out of a realisation by government that there was no single coherent trade policy document to guide players in both the public and private sectors.
The US$5 million (Shs10bn) market investment is expected to improve Uganda's capacity to comply with standards and her export markets.
With a ready food market in Southern Sudan, DRC and to a good extent Rwanda and Kenya, Ugandan farmers will have a good opportunity to sell.