Gen Wilson Mbadi signs the BUBU magazine and directory after launching the western BUBU trade ExpoLocal manufacturers have asked government to ease the registration of their locally manufactured products to allow them compete on the international markets.The local manufacturers made the request during the official opening of the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) first ever western trade Expo in Mbarara City on SaturdayThe three-day Expo has attracted over 1000 traders.Julius Bigabwa, the director Biglad Agri Tourism Farm in Kiko Town Council, said the cost of doing business in the country is so expensive citing formalities in registering and certification of their products.“The Buy Uganda, Build Uganda will not succeed unless you come up with plans and policies to support local manufacturers, the process of getting certification from Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) requires over Shs 3 million and most of the businesses that are growing start with less than Shs 1 million, where do you expect to get this money from,”.Hillary Ankunda, the director of Nulia Confectionaries in Ibanda Municipality asked why the government gives tax waivers to foreign companies and ignored local manufacturers that begin businesses with little capital.Simon Mwijuka, the chairperson Mbarara City Traders Association (MBACITA) also echoed that the required process of company and product registration is hectic and expensive for the local manufacturers to grow.“Traders and manufacturers are struggling because of the taxation system in the country. You are talking of value addition but the moment you struggle to get into the market the various taxes slapped on your business cannot enable you to grow and expand your business”.The State Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi in response said that the government was ready to support the manufacturers through a multi-sectorial approachHe narrated that government has increased efforts to address these issues through provision of value addition equipment and establishment of regional laboratories to provide testing services closer to micro, small, and medium-sized businesses and challenged the manufactures to take advantage of such facilities to make their goods and services certified and become competitive.The government BUBU policy under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives was approved in 2014 and launched in 2017 to encourage Ugandans buy locally produced goods and services, its implementation strategy was developed in 2016.-URNThe post Local Manufacturers Want Gov’t To Ease Product Registration appeared first on Business Focus.