PM discusses business opportunities with the Italian Deputy PM

By Ismael Kasooha  

ITALY

The Prime Minister of Uganda Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja has held bilateral talks with the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E Antonio Tajani on strategies to bolster partnerships between the two countries.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Italy H.E Antonio Tajani (right) welcoming Robinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister of Uganda in Rome Italy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offices

The closed-door meeting, which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, Italy on Wednesday, was attended by, among others, the Head of Uganda’s Mission in Italy Ambassador Elizabeth Paula Napeyok and the Director General of Uganda Investment Authority Dr. Robert Mukiza.

Nabbanja said she told Tajani that Uganda is interested in building partnerships that will result in setting up factories to add value to its products like coffee and cocoa. This, the Premier said, will increase earnings from the country’s agricultural products and create jobs for the young people.

“He (H.E Antonio Tajani) said that cooperation between Uganda and Italy is possible and we agreed to transform our coffee and sign win-win agreements in that sector,” Nabbanja said. “Italian companies will enter into joint ventures with Ugandan companies in the agro-industry and energy sectors,”

The Premier told her host that Uganda is endowed with minerals and invited his government to participate in mineral extraction and value-addition.

Tajani said that building stronger partnerships with Africa is a priority of the Italian government. This, he said, will create development opportunities.

Tajani said his government will cooperate with Uganda on training Ugandan workers and students in the coffee, agro-industry, oil and gas and technical education sectors, among others. Nabbanja and Tajani stressed the need for Uganda to hold a business forum for potential Italian investors to learn more about the existing investment opportunities in Uganda.

TNabbanja travelled to Italy last week to represent H.E. President Yoweri Museveni at the Italy-Africa summit, which took place in Rome on Monday. She also gave a keynote address at the 5^th European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East summit, which also took place in Rome this week.

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