Barclays Uganda has partnered with the Netherlands Embassy, Kampala to organise a trade mission for 31 of the Bank’s Small and Medium Entrepreneurs to the Netherlands.
The trade mission scheduled to take place from 4 – 13, November 2018, is part of the Barclays Uganda annual programme for its Business Club customers.
This business mission will facilitate bilateral trade exchanges between Uganda and the Netherlands.
It provides an opportunity for both Dutch and Ugandan businesses to explore new markets, exchange knowledge, co-create, initiate new partnerships and expand businesses networks.
The mission will specifically target several world renowned Dutch centres of agro-foods excellence namely: Food processing; Horticulture; Dairy; Poultry; Piggery and Agro-technology among others.
While speaking at the trade-mission flagging–off event held at the Dutch Ambassador’s residence, Rakesh Jha, the Managing Director of Barclays Bank of Uganda Limited said, “Business Banking is integral for the growth of local entrepreneurship and the economic development of the country at large.” He further asserted that Barclays Business Club trips have added value to the SME customer segment, which is a key driver of accelerating Uganda’s economic development and facilitate linkages between Barclay’s customers in the SME sector with potential suppliers and business partners in international markets. This is one way that Barclays brings customers’ dreams and possibilities to realisation.
Mr Jha said, “On these trips, club members are exposed to international businesses process and superior business practices, which enable them to increase their efficiency. Additionally, the trips have been specifically tailored to meet the needs of the diverse groups of customers. As a bank, Barclays is committed to offering beyond-banking services and support that will support the growth of this sector.”
The initiative by Barclays Bank to organise this privately funded trade mission to the Netherlands, is a positive spin-off of the Netherlands Embassy’s sustainable trade and investment program in Uganda.
It demonstrates increasing confidence by Ugandan companies in the Dutch brand for its high quality, reliability and efficiency. This is the reason why both Ugandan and Dutch businesses are increasingly entering into business partnerships.
Henk Jan Bakker, the Ambassador of the Netherlands, reiterated the embassy’s continued commitment to support Uganda’s development and economic transformation efforts through enhanced bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.
The Embassy and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency will support a Masterclass on Global Entrepreneurship for the trade mission participants in The Hague. The trade mission is co-organised by Dutch consulting firm, Business and Investment Africa, Strategic Advisory and Research Consulting and the Trade and Investment team of the Dutch embassy in Kampala.
Barclays Bank has in the past organised trips to Brazil, Japan, USA, UK, France, Turkey and South Africa. The trips continue to promote new business development for over 1,000 entrepreneurs under the Bank’s business club.
