• Certification targets boosting agro-food exports to GCC countries
• Office to cover key sectors, aiming to double GCC export share in 5 years
  

Uganda is stepping up efforts to boost its agricultural exports to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. To that end, it is partnering with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to establish a National Halal Certification Office, ChimpReports reported on Tuesday.

According to Ramathan Ggoobi, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, the project is already at an advanced stage. He made the announcement during the Uganda-UAE Business Forum held in Kampala from October 27 to 29.

Halal certification ensures that products comply with Islamic dietary standards, a prerequisite in many Muslim-majority markets. Once operational, the new office will work with the Ministry of Trade to implement halal protocols across critical parts of the export chain, including agri-industrial parks, cold storage facilities, and key logistics hubs such as Entebbe International Airport and the Hoima Cargo Terminal.

“The certification will eliminate barriers and make Uganda's food exports competitive in the Middle East. It's not just about compliance, but about value addition and brand trust,” Ggoobi said. Targeted products include beef, dairy, poultry, fruits, cereals, coffee, and processed foods.

Uganda currently exports about $4.4 billion worth of agricultural and food products each year, but less than 10% of that reaches Gulf markets. Authorities hope the new certification system will double Uganda’s share of agro-food exports to GCC countries within the next five years. The GCC includes the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.

Stéphanas Assocle