INTERVIEW-Uganda's 2010 exports seen growing 4-6 pct-board

Mon Sep 6, 2010 3:47pm GMT

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* Export growth helped by commodity prices, rising demand

* 2009 exports totalled $3.6 billion

By Elias Biryabarema

KAMPALA, Sep 6 (Reuters) - Uganda's export receipts will rise by 4-6 percent in 2010 compared to last year, helped by higher commodity prices and growing demand in key markets, the Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB) said on Monday.

William Babigumira, UEPB's market information officer, said the increase would be helped by a rebound in merchandise exports -- visible goods excluding electricity -- which were on course to recover this year from a drop last year brought on by the global downturn.

"In 2010, Uganda's overall exports (goods and services) are expected to grow between 4-6 percent in nominal terms compared to 2009, buoyed by recovering commodity prices coupled with an uptick in demand in the EU and Uganda's regional markets," Babigumira said in an interview.

Uganda earned $3.6 billion from all exports in 2009, up slightly on $3.4 billion a year earlier, with neighbouring Sudan its largest market purchasing exports worth $184.6 million, state-run UEPB data showed.

The forecast nominal increase is above the rate of inflation, which last month eased to a 6-year low of 1.7 percent. Continued...

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