Uganda’s State Minister for Industry, Michael Werikhe, is urging Ugandan cosmetics brands to branch out to East African markets and beyond, according to a report published by New Vision.

Uganda’s economy is heavily reliant on imports, a bid from cosmetics manufacturers to market their products outside the country’s borders could redress the balance.

“These products are globally competitive in quality, but if we do not market them at the global level we shall continue to lose as government and as individual manufacturers,” said Werikhe.

A spokesperson for Ugandan brand Radiant Cosmetics noted that the competitiveness of SMEs in Uganda is hampered by high energy tariffs, taxation and skills gaps. Werikhe called for trade facilitation for SMEs in a bid to address skill and market gaps.