Uganda and Cuba have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral trade cooperation. The agreement, inked on Thursday evening in Kampala, involved top government officials from both nations, with Vice President Jessica Alupo leading the Ugandan delegation and the first vice president of Cuba, Salvador Antonio Valdes, heading the Cuban representatives.
Vice President Alupo expressed her pleasure at leading the discussions, emphasizing that the MoU aims to enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries. She highlighted the opportunity for continued discussions to explore new areas of cooperation, deepen relations, and elevate them to higher levels.
The meeting, held just before the anticipated opening ceremony of the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit hosted by President Museveni, signifies the commitment of both nations to strengthen economic ties. The NAM summit is a platform for heads of state and government to engage in discussions on global issues.
Mr. Valdes, representing Cuba, expressed optimism about the agreement’s potential impact on the trading economies of both nations. He acknowledged President Museveni’s proposal in 2022 for an agreement facilitating Cuba’s access to goods produced in Uganda. Mr. Valdes emphasized the importance of the agreement, foreseeing mutual benefits and expanded market opportunities for Uganda in the Caribbean and Latin-American regions.
Vice President Alupo, echoing the sentiment, expressed hope that the technical teams from both countries would concretize the agreement. She emphasized the need for strong political commitment to ensure the successful implementation of the agreement.
This latest trade agreement follows two previously signed MoUs between Uganda and Cuba. The first, signed on September 14, 2023, focused on collaboration in the fields of Science, Technology, and Innovations. The second, signed on September 15, 2023, outlined regular diplomatic consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries.
