President Yoweri Museveni has called on the Ugandan business community and investors in the East African Community (EAC) to leverage the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, collaborating with counterparts outside the region. Delivering this message through Vice President Jessica Alupo at the official opening of the East African Trade and Investment Forum in Kampala, Museveni emphasized the opportunity to optimize value addition, foster technology and skills transfer, secure financing, uphold standards, and enhance global market access.
The three-day forum, conducted alongside the NAM Summit under the theme “Unlocking East Africa’s potential on the global stage,” aims to attract at least $1 billion (approximately sh3.7 trillion) in investments across various sectors. President Museveni highlighted Uganda’s commitment to private sector development and expressed the government’s dedication to providing a One Stop Centre for investors and creating a conducive business environment.
The East African Trade and Investment Forum serves as a platform for increased business engagements, promoting dialogue to enhance private sector investments and businesses within the EAC. The Ugandan government anticipates the forum to attract significant investments in sectors such as energy, ICT, commercial agriculture, trade, infrastructure, mining, industrialization, tourism, and oil and gas.
Vincent Bagiire, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mentioned that over 100 investors from NAM member states have expressed interest in investing in Uganda. A team led by the ministries of trade and finance will present bankable projects to facilitate these potential investments.
