By: Ismael Kasooha
UAE
The Prime Minister of Uganda Robinah Nabbanja is in Dubai to officially open the 3rd Uganda-UAE Business Forum on behalf of President Museveni.
The Forum is organized under the theme “Unlocking New Horizons for Economic Prosperity”.
The 3rd Edition of the Uganda-UAE Business Forum, is an annual event organized by the Uganda Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Uganda Consulate General in Dubai and is running from 28th to 31st October 2024.
The Forum aims to attract Foreign Direct Investment, promote Uganda’s exports to the UAE, encourage tourism, facilitate technology transfers, project a positive image of Uganda, and mobilize the Ugandan Diaspora in the UAE for development.
The first segment of the Forum, led by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce, is expected to end today the 30th October 2024 at the St. Regis Hotel, Abu Dhabi.
The second segment, organized by the Uganda Embassy and Consulate, will take place tomorrow on 31st October 2024 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai
Prime Minister of Uganda, Robinah Nabbanja delivered a keynote address to a gathering of government officials, diplomats, academics, policymakers and scholars from the UAE and Africa at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, Abu Dhabi.
Nabbanja delivered the address at the invitation of Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan.
“Africa has immense potential across various sectors, powered by its young demographics with a sizeable portion of its population under 25. This young workforce can drive innovation and entrepreneurship, creating new markets and industries,” noted Nabbanja.
Nabbanja briefed UAE that Africa is also a continent of abundant natural resources, including precious minerals and renewable energy sources such as solar and hydro and possesses vast arable land which can be a key driver of food security and economic development.
“Uganda and UAE have enjoyed a cordial relationship anchored on economic and commercial diplomacy serving as the rationale for the opening of the Uganda Embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2009 and later, the Uganda Consulate in Dubai in 2022,” she said.
Nabbanja noted that UAE is now one of the leading investors in Uganda having made FDI to the tune of US$ 3 Billion across a spectrum of sectors particularly energy, infrastructure, health care, agri-business, oil and gas, manufacturing, construction, real estate, and tourism,” she said.
Nabbanja also held a separate meeting with Rashed Alblooshi, Under- Secretary, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. They discussed extensively areas of economic cooperation and possible foreign direct investment in the agricultural, mineral and aviation sectors.
The Prime Minister was accompanied to her meetings by Ambassador of Uganda to the United Arab Emirates Zaake Kibedi, Representative of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Santa Mary Laker-Kinyera, and Head of Public Diplomacy.
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