STAR project boosts Ugandan shea butter exports through funding and branding
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
The STAR project is providing financial support and technical training to small and medium sized enterprises in Northern and Northeastern Uganda to improve shea butter exports.
Funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency and implemented by the International Trade Centre, the initiative targets 10 districts including Lira, Oyam, and Kitgum. The program aims to help local processors overcome high interest rates and fragmented producer networks that currently hinder their ability to compete globally.
The project addresses a lack of accessible capital by offering a matching grant facility. Because many local businesses cannot secure loans due to interest rates between 18 to 20 percent and heavy collateral requirements, the program provides catalytic support. Small and medium sized enterprises contribute 50 percent of the investment to receive a portion of an 86,000 United States dollar grant envelope. This funding helps businesses scale up and overcome geographical isolation.
Beyond financing, the initiative helps farmers and producers improve their branding and packaging to meet international standards. The project has sponsored local processors to exhibit their products at trade fairs in France, South Korea, Kenya, and the European Union. These efforts have helped businesses like Blessed Organic Release Ltd, a social enterprise in Pader, increase their sales from 10 percent to 50 percent.
The company secured various trial orders from Germany, Belgium, and France following its participation in trade shows in Paris and South Korea.
