U.S-Africa Trade Desk Webinar

The American Chamber of Commerce Uganda

The American Chamber of Commerce Uganda is a professional organization founded in December 2008 by American investors in Uganda with an interest in fostering and promoting greater commercial and cultural ties between Uganda and American firms.

We are a member-based organization. Our memberships are tailored to the top leadership of firms - either CEOs or MDs – and we currently host over 50+ of the country’s top-performing firms.

Vision
To be the sole platform that advocates and creates strong commercial and economic ties between American and Ugandan Investments.

Mission
To bring together a community of USA brands and businesses, US citizens participating in community development in Uganda, and Ugandan-based businesses wanting to do business with the USA in a platform for sharing business, new investment
opportunities, and cross-cultural exchange

Event Details

Join this free virtual session to discover opportunities in the U.S. retail market and learn how to successfully expand your business. Experts will share insights on market trends, entry requirements, and strategies for growth, along with real success stories from African brands already thriving in the U.S.

Don't miss this chance to take your business global! Register now to secure your spot.

Agenda

March 11, 2025

Main Schedule

15:30 - 15:35

Welcome Remarks

Eve Zalwango

15:35 - 15:40

Brief Remarks

15:40 - 16:30

Presentation

Garvin Van Der Burgh

16:30 - 17:00

Q & A Session

Eve Zalwango

Speakers

Eve Zalwango

AmCham Uganda

Meg H Jaquay

President at AmCham Uganda

Garvin Van Der Burgh

Chief Executive Officer at US Africa Trade Desk

With over ten years of experience in carpentry, marketing, interior design, and community development through skilling, Evelyn brings a wealth of expertise to her role as General Manager of The American Chamber of Commerce of Uganda. Passionate about empowering women and creating a more inclusive workspace, Evelyn founded the Fundi Women Initiative which aims to train and support women who have survived human trafficking, early marriages, and young motherhood, providing them with skills in carpentry and its value chain. By doing so, Evelyn strives to bring gender equality to the male-dominated industry and foster economic empowerment for women while creating valuable employment opportunities. Evelyn's dedication and impact have not gone unnoticed. She received the Outstanding Community Social Impact Award in 2023 and was honored with the Women 4 Women Award for Best Businesswoman in Uganda in 2018. Her commitment to community development led her to become a Fellow through the U.S. Department of State's Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) at Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business in 2015. In addition, she served as President of the Uganda YALI Fellow Chapter from 2016 to 2017.

Meg Hilbert Jaquay wears many hats. She is the MD of Jakana Foods Ltd, an all-natural food processing and packaging solutions company based in Kawempe Uganda specializing in dried fruit, juice, sauces, and jams. Since 2022, she has also served as the President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Uganda, and As the Chairperson of the AGOA Exporters Association of Uganda, she has become an expert in the requirements to export from Africa to the USA. Her mission is to use her 35+ years of project management experience to grow businesses. She began her career in 1985 in Silicon Valley working in Artificial Intelligence. As a process engineer, her experiences make her a unique, efficiency expert. She was born in New York and has been living in Kampala for over 10 years.

Born and raised in South Africa, Gavin's academic journey at the University of Johannesburg cemented his understanding of entrepreneurship's pivotal role in job creation across Africa. His career took a significant turn when he moved to the USA in 2020, settling in Orlando, Florida with his family. Drawing from his African roots, Gavin transformed his business by focusing on adding value to products sourced from the continent, turning them into premium meals now available in over 6,500 stores across the USA.

In 2023, Gavin further enhanced his expertise by completing advanced courses in Marketing and Artificial Intelligence at Columbia University. He integrates this cutting-edge knowledge into every facet of the US African Trade Desk ecosystem, which he founded with the support of Prosper Africa. This innovative platform unites industry leaders from retail, supply chain, finance, and aggregation within a groundbreaking ERP/CRM system. It offers US retailers comprehensive visibility throughout the supply chain, ensuring the sustainability and ethical standards that American consumers demand. Currently holds the positions of President of Genesis Food Products and the CEO of US Africa Trade desk.

Gavin's remarkable contributions to transcontinental trade and economic development have earned him the prestigious recognition as an honored listee in the 2024 edition of Marquis Who's Who in America. Through his efforts, Gavin fosters economic growth and bridges continents, bringing high-quality African goods to global markets.

The American Chamber of Commerce Uganda

Contact us

Event Details

Agenda

March 11, 2025

Main Schedule

Speakers

Eve Zalwango

Meg H Jaquay

Garvin Van Der Burgh

Sponsors and Partners

Community

Discover and connect with other attendees.

The American Chamber of Commerce Uganda

Contact us

U.S-Africa Trade Desk Webinar

Event Details

Agenda

March 11, 2025

Main Schedule

Speakers

Eve Zalwango

Meg H Jaquay

Garvin Van Der Burgh

Sponsors and Partners

Organizer

Community

Discover and connect with other attendees.