By Ambrose Gahene
KAMPALA
Uganda’s Vice President, Hon. Jessica Alupo has called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Investors to prioritize Agriculture value addition. She made the remarks, while officiating as the Guest of Honor at the UAE-Uganda Investment Forum on Wednesday, at Kampala Sheraton Hotel.
“Uganda is endowed with fertile soils and favorable rainfall climate throughout the year, which is why we call on UAE Investors to put much emphasis in Agriculture value addition so as to fetch high revenues from Uganda’s Agriculture exports”, she said.
She in addition called upon UAE Investors to promote Uganda’s tourism sector by encouraging their citizens to visit Uganda’s tourism attractions and the friendly Ugandan peoples’ cultural values.
“UAE is not only Uganda’s number one business partner but a friend of Uganda”, she added.
Hon. Francis Mwebesa, Uganda’s Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives welcomed the UAE Business delegation to Uganda and assured them of full Government support to carry out their investments. He said UAE is number one exporter of petroleum products to Uganda and that Uganda should reciprocate by availing UAE Investors with a favorable environment to do business in Uganda.
Mr. Elly Twineyo, Uganda Export Promotion Board Executive Director, said Uganda has so far organized 300 expos to attract investors, which have yielded over $USD 200 Billion.
“Uganda has increased its relationship with UAE and in particular Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Let’s live positively as trade partners”, he said.
President Yoweri Museveni, while meeting UAE Investors at the Investment and Business Forum at Speke Resort Munyonyo recently, wooed them to invest in Uganda, saying that the country has a lot of investment opportunities with a readily available market.
“When you produce a good or a service, who will buy the product? In the case of Uganda, you have the possibility of both. When you are here, you produce a good or a service and you will be assured of the market,” he said.
President Museveni explained that; Uganda has a big market consisting of 46 million Ugandans and 300 million East Africans as well as that of 1.5 billion Africans which African countries are currently working on, under the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA).
“We were clear from the beginning that we needed these markets, that is why we worked on the issue of regional integration. So you have the market of East Africa of 300 million people”, he added.
President Museveni further informed the UAE business delegation that Uganda has already put in place the entire necessary infrastructure required for the smooth running of their business.
“The infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and water among others helps to connect the producer of the good or service to the consumer. Now all these are in place or are being put in place here,” he noted.
