Government of Uganda, Development Partners Officially Launch the Netherlands Trust Fund IV Project

Jeddy Genrwot April 30, 2018

2 minutes read

Group picture of the NTFIV stakeholders.

The Government of Uganda in collaboration with its development partners, the Dutch Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI), The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and the International Trade Centre (ITC) this morning launched the Netherlands Trust Fund IV (NTFIV) at Hotel Africana.

The 1.7 million dollar project aims to boost the competitiveness of producers and exporters within the IT and IT Enabled Services (ITES) sector in Uganda.

The Netherlands Trust Fund IV (NTF IV) project was signed on 25 September 2017 and will end on 30 June 2021.

Representing the Hon. Frank Tumwebaze Minister of Information, Communications Technology & National Guidance, NITA-U’s Executive Director James Saaka said,

“The Government of Uganda is committed to providing support to the industry in various forms in order to realize the benefits envisaged from a fully developed IT & ITES sector,” adding that the

Government has been able to set up an infrastructural network that can support the IT & ITES In in Uganda, an enabling legal and regulatory environment for the growth of the IT & ITES industry in Uganda and Identified appropriate incentives that will boost and attract investors in the IT & ITES sector such as low cost bandwidth to enhance global competition.

Amelia Kyambadde, Uganda’s Minister of Trade Industry and Cooperatives, said:

“I welcome this initiative by ITC to support us in the strengthening of Uganda’s tech industry. We know Ugandan companies have the skills to compete in international markets and NTF IV project will help some climb that the last barrier and expand beyond our borders.”

Over 100 Small & medium enterprises (SMEs) and Start-ups have been selected as beneficiaries of the Netherlands Trust Fund Project (NTFIV).

International Trade Center Executive Director Arancha González said: “Competitiveness is not an option. It is a necessity if countries are to seize the opportunities presented by trade and new technologies. With the NTF IV project, we will open up a new chapter in ITC’s support to the development of exports “Made in Uganda” IT and IT-enabled services.”

NITA-U ED James Saaka, Represented Hon. Frank Tumwebaze Minister for MOICT

Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Hon. Amelia Kyambade, was the Chief Guest.

Arancha Gonzalez ED International Trade Center

The lead implementers of the project are The National Information Technology Authority of Uganda, under the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance together with), Centre for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI), The International Trade Center (ITC), The Alliance for Trade in IT and Services (ATIS), The Information and Communication Technology Association of Uganda (ICTAU) and the Uganda Export Promotions Board.

The selected companies will get the following benefits;

Value acquisition: Improving efficiency within the enterprises and sector at each stage of the value chain, therefore enhancing their competitiveness.
Value addition: Reinforcing and adding value within the enterprises and sector at each stage of the value chain (e.g. through changes to the attributes of the service/ product, or increasing the perception of value, such as through certification or branding).
Value creation: Enterprises entering new value chains (including entrepreneurship and innovation) within the sector, or related sectors.
Impact: Inclusive and Sustainable Development: Improved livelihood of SME owners (particularly women and youth) through income generation and an increased share of the additional wealth created.

The NTF IV Project on the achievements of NTF III, where 580 full-time jobs created, and an increase of 9.85% in exports and 24% of that growth.