| 26th Annual UNAA Convention "Unity through Cultural Awareness" August 29th - August 31st, 2014 Hyatt Regency - La Jolla at Aventine (Official Hotel of the UNAA Convention) San Diego, CA 6th Annual UNAA Trade & Investment Forum Friday August 29th, 2014 - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM One of the main objectives of the Ugandan North American Association is to promote the economic interests of Ugandans in the Diaspora. During the last 5 consecutive annual UNAA Conventions a whole day has been set aside for a Trade and Investment Forum. Business sectors from North America and from Uganda represented always include financial services, manufacturing, tourism, coffee and tea, agriculture, construction, IT services, advanced education, commercial transportation, real estate development, commercial import/export services, gifts and decorative accessories, and many others. Very frequently, representatives from some of the companies attending the forums seek to engage enterprising UNAA Members in partnership opportunities. It is our sincerest pleasure to highlight a key contributor to the success of every Trade and Investment Forum that UNAA has held over the past five years.  In 2004 two young Americans, Jake Elster and Taylor Mork, went to Uganda to open an internet cafe and training center in Iganga. With 'DevelopNET Iganga' up and running, the two friends moved to Mbale to work with the Bugisu Cooperative Union. By 2006 they were helping to create a market for Ugandan coffee in the United States, and founded Crop to Cup Coffee Importers towards this end. When farmers asked Crop to Cup to purchase more coffee, the founders responded by shedding their roasting operations to focus on importing at large scale. Today Crop to Cup sources both Arabica and Robusta from several communities across Uganda, and makes it a point to bring students and customers to visit whenever possible.  
Jake and Taylor give much credit to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority and its Managing Director Mr. Henry Ngabirano, for the role they have played in supporting them. "Having people you can trust, advocates for your cause, and mentors - these have been the keys to our successes in Uganda."   In a recent interview, the founders of the company expressed plans to expand into other North American markets including near term plans for a warehouse and distribution center in Los Angeles. They are actively seeking interested partners for this venture and in other North American regions.
 
www.croptocup.com/greens www.twitter.com/croptocup www.flickr.com/photos/croptocupcoffee This year's Trade and Investment Forum will spend significantly more time analyzing the dynamics of actual existing US/Uganda business ventures and assessing the latent viability (challenges and rewards) of new ventures. Social Media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/UNAA01 Twitter: www.twitter.com/unaaorg Google Plus: www.google.com/+UnaaOrg LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/3488483 For UNAA membership convention information: UNAA Membership www.tinyurl.com/UNAAMember Convention Registration: www.unaa.org/register-now Boat Cruise Registration: www.unaa.org/dinner-cruise-registration For UNAA hotel information: Hyatt Regency La Jolla Hotel Booking: https://aws.passkey.com/g/20550633 Call +1 888 421 1442 Sheraton at La Jolla Hotel Booking: Sheraton La Jolla For convention and hotel information, visit www.unaa.org | 
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