UAE holds trade and investment forum in Uganda

Three officials of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry at a business forum
Olive Kigongo (centre), president of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais (right), chairman Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), at a business forum organised by SCCI at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel. Photo credit: Uganda Business News

The United Arab Emirates today held a trade and business forum in Kampala. The forum, organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce attracted over 22 companies from UAE who came to look for trade and investment opportunities in Uganda.

Speaking during the business forum, His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) said: “Our mission to Uganda is a result of our on-going visits to the African continent as part of the Sharjah chamber’s endeavours to reinforce its presence in the emerging African markets and step up the volume of commercial, economic, and investment cooperation.”

He said the Sharjah Chamber pays great attention to advancing economic cooperation relations and opening new prospects between businesspeople and companies in the Emirate of Sharjah and Uganda.

Male business executive addressing a business forum
His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, chairman of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry speaking at the business forum. Photo credit: Uganda Business News

“At present, the UAE comes third among Uganda’s exporting countries with a value of US $1.270 billion, while Ugandan exports to the UAE amounted to the US $428 million. This reflects the efforts exerted to bolster this economic trend and trade openness between the two sides by encouraging investment in both countries,” he added.

According to statistics from the Bank of Uganda, exports to the United Arab Emirates reached $528.3 million for the six months between April and September 2019. This makes the UAE one of the top destinations for Uganda’s exports, especially gold and fresh organic foods. However, there are many other untapped areas Ugandan businesses can exploit in this $184 billion market.

In 2018, the top three countries exporting goods and services to Uganda were China ($1 billion), India ($743 million), and The United Arab Emirates ($644 million).

Mr Gideon Badagawa, the Executive Director of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) encouraged the private sector to leverage such opportunities to scale up their business and forge partnerships with companies from the UAE.

Mr Matia Kasaija, the minister of finance planning and economic development, said Uganda is a growing free market economy. “Following the rebasing of our economy, our GDP has expanded to $30 billion. Our economy is estimated to grow by 6.2 per cent over the next two years,” he said.

He encouraged the UAE businesses to come and invest in Uganda and take advantage of our substantial and rapidly growing consumer market which is northwards of 43 million people.

HE Abdullah Sultan Al Owais called upon the Ugandan business community to take part in general and specialized exhibitions held throughout the year at the Expo Centre Sharjah. He also asked them to take advantage of the enormous investment opportunities in the Emirate, particularly its distinguished package of leading services and competitive facilities for foreign investors and business communities.

For more information, contact Sharon Kakai on [email protected] or +256323201672

1 thought on “UAE holds trade and investment forum in Uganda”

  1. we appreciate such arrangements but what i realized that day was this highest number of business owners who came only wanted us to buy from them. they were not interested in what we have, so in such arrangements, i would suggest that we emphasis what we have as Ugandans for example we would have had a presentation by one of the most re known supplier of fruits outside Uganda

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