NEWS- The European Union Ambassador to Uganda His Excellence Jan Sadek yesterday February 28th 2024 made a courtesy visit on the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Principal Private Secretary Dr Kenneth Omona.
The meeting between Ambassador Jan Sadek and Dr Kenneth Omona focused on the upcoming Third Edition of the Uganda – European Union Business Forum which will take place from 5th to 7th March 2024 at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.
The meeting comes at a time when European Union and the Government of Uganda are joining forces to host the 3rd Uganda-EU Business Forum (UEUBF), which is a high-level summit facilitating structured collaboration between European and Ugandan private sector and public actors.
The Uganda-EU Forum is the largest and most influential joint Uganda-EU event on doing business and investing in Uganda and the Forum is being organized under the theme, “Boosting Trade and Investments” with the sub-theme of “What can Uganda gain from Global Gateway?”
According to the European Union Ambassador to Uganda, Jan Sadek, the Forum which is now in its third edition presents a hybrid event of exclusive business meetings in Uganda designed to mobilize investments into the country and strengthen Ugandan exports, contributing to the partnership between Uganda and the European Union.
“There is a lot that Uganda can gain from the Global Gateway, which is the EU’s investment strategy aimed at leveraging investments for large scale initiatives in sectors that are key for sustainable and inclusive growth in partner countries,” Ambassador Sadek said.
Ambassador Sadek said that through the Global Gateway, the European Union is able to pool resources from Member States and European financial institutions to narrow investment gaps while promoting competitiveness and security of supply chains.
During the meeting, Dr Omona confirmed that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni that will be the Chief Guest at the Forum and will be joined by the European Union Deputy Director General for International Partnerships Ms Myriam Ferran.
The Uganda-EU Business Forum is organised by the EU Delegation to Uganda together with its Member States, in partnership with the Government of Uganda, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), under the Sustainable Business for Uganda (SB4U) Team Europe Initiative.
The Minister of State for Investment and Privatization, Hon Evelyn Anite has since urged investors to take advantage of business opportunities that will be created by the 3rd edition of the Forum.
“Government of Uganda fully supports the 3rd Uganda-EU Business Forum and we thank the EU for choosing Uganda as a preferred investment destination. This is an excellent opportunity for Ugandans to seize,” Hon Anite said
According to the Chairman of Uganda Investment Authority Morrison Rwakakamba, the 3rd Uganda-EU Business Forum is placing special attention to key economic sectors that offer significant opportunities for European investors to develop partnerships with entrepreneurs in Uganda including in agribusiness, sustainable mining, enabling infrastructure and sustainable tourism.
“The Uganda Investment Authority will showcase bankable projects at the 3rd Uganda-European Union Business Forum and will continue to illuminate investment opportunities that we can present to European Union investors”, Rwakakamba said.
Rwakakamba said that there will be lucrative investment opportunities in pharmaceuticals, edible oils, electronics and agro-equipment and Ugsnda Investment Authority strongly believe that the Forum will pave a way for a more remarkable coalition among Ugandan public and private sector trade and investment support institutions to work together in making investments happen in Uganda.
The European Union is one of the leading development partners for Uganda, not only contributing to Uganda’s development objectives through official development assistance but also through private sector investments and through trade.
It is anticipated that the 3rd Uganda-EU Business Forum will attract the participation of over 1500 individuals, both in-person and virtually, and representatives from various European nations, including France, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Austria, the Czech Republic, and others, are expected to join.
According to the Chairman of Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Humphrey Nzeyi, the European Union market offers great opportunities for Ugandan entrepreneurs and Uganda has lots of trade advantages with Europe and which need to be built by capitalizing and focusing on value addition and standards for quality exports.
Nzeyi said that the Ugandan Private Sector is keen on doing business with their European counterparts and this Forum presents a priceless opportunity for us to expand our markets, promote Ugandan services and products and attract investment in the country.
