BVI, known for producing vaccines for diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth, has positioned itself as a trusted supplier in the region.
Briefing participants during the Botswana-Uganda virtual trade mission this week, Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) executive director for Business Intelligence, Margaret Sengwaketse, said BVI has played a pivotal role in strengthening Botswana’s trade presence in Uganda.
“Botswana’s exports to Uganda have been narrow in composition, mainly dominated by pharmaceutical products, specifically animal vaccines, from 2020 to 2023,” she said.
However, she said about 87 vehicles were also exported from Botswana to Uganda last year.
Statistics further reveal that trade relations between Botswana and Uganda have been characterised by low volumes and a decreasing trend in both exports and imports. Despite Botswana enjoying a trade surplus in recent years, the overall trade relationship remains minimal.
Both exports from Botswana to Uganda and imports from Uganda into Botswana have been declining. However, the decrease in imports from Uganda has been steeper than the decline in exports.
In 2020, the balance of trade favoured Uganda, amounting to $5.9 million, but in subsequent years, Botswana regained a trade surplus.
Imports from Uganda have also been limited, with the largest single shipment recorded in 2020, when pharmaceutical products worth $6.8 million were received.
In 2024, imports included live trees, plants, bulbs, roots, cut flowers, and ornamental foliage, as well as coffee, tea, mate, and spices.
Despite the limited trade, Sengwaketse said Botswana has significant untapped export potential to Uganda. A sample of 21 selected products from Botswana had a total untapped potential of P73.52 million, whilst Uganda’s total imports for the same set of products from the rest of the world in 2022, stood at P639.2 million.
However, Botswana’s share of total imports into Uganda for these products was zero, showing that Botswana is yet to tap into this market. Additionally, the share of imports from Botswana into Uganda for this group of products has been on a decreasing trend, further highlighting the need to enhance trade engagement between the two countries, officials said.
