The Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF), the umbrella body of the private sector has invited 150 local companies to attend Uganda’s 17th annual International Trade fair in Kampala from October 6 to 12, 2009.. 

Ephrem Karangwa, the Promotions and Fairs Manager at PSF, said that 150 potential exhibitors have been invited by the PSF although some exhibitors will attend the trade fair without passing through the federation.

"Some exhibitors go through PSF while others attend the exhibition directly through the organisers of the show in Uganda,” explained Karangwa.

The PSF says that  participation in such international events helps the local businesses to gain international exposure and share experience with other established companies.

Karangwa said: "Rwandan companies make new business contacts, export their products, get raw materials at a cheaper price, as well as forging partnerships with other international companies.”

The federation has invited businesses from all sectors to attend this fair since it is an open exhibition that accommodates all businesses unlike some exhibitions that target one sector.

As part of the facilitation the PSF sometimes extends to the Rwandan exhibitors going a broad air tickets.
Eleven exhibitors received air tickets from the federation to attend the AGOA exhibition in Nairobi last month.

"We do not always pay air tickets but we do it when we have the funds,” explained Karangwa.

The business community says that they are challenged with expensive stands, high costs of accommodation which limits the number of exhibitors in Kampala.

Sometimes a stand costs $200 per square meter, almost double what Rwanda charges foreign exhibitors.  

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