President Yoweri Museveni has spent the second day of his official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) preaching the gospel of Uganda’s need for adding value on locally produced goods.
Museveni is asserting the view that for foreign investors and businesses looking at Africa, Uganda is the country of choice on the continent.
According to him, Uganda is the best place for investment because of its unmatched investment incentives as well as a number of favorable business conditions.
Museveni left the country on Sunday morning for the UAE on a three-day official visit where he is expected to meet and hold talks with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi.
The two leaders are expected to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and review regional and international issues of common interest.
In a tweet on Monday, Museveni said he “held meetings with various investors and friends of Uganda upon my arrival in Abu Dhabi, UAE.”
“I discussed with them our needs for value addition, available incentives and pro-business conditions. I am happy that they see the potential of doing business with us,” Museveni added.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has for years reiterated government’s commitment to promoting value addition on Ugandan products rather than exporting raw materials.
While commissioning a new coffee processing factory in Rwashamaire Town Council, Ntungamo district on Thursday, December 29, 2022, the President said there is no way Uganda and other African-producing countries can develop from their coffee when they are exporting it raw, adding that the only way for these countries is to develop a processing industry.
He linked the continued export of raw materials from Africa to the new slavery and said he cannot support it.
Meanwhile, in UAE, the President will also attend the World Future Energy Summit as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) and hold talks with government officials and the business community from the UAE.
The ADSW is a global initiative championed by the UAE and its clean energy powerhouse, Masdar, to accelerate sustainable development and advance economic, social and environmental progress.
This year’s Summit is Held under the theme United on Climate Action Towards COP28.
ADSW 2023, through its multi-stakeholder platforms, will empower its participants to develop practical strategies to achieve sustainable development in the critical areas of Energy and Climate Change, Water and Food, Mobility, Health, Tech for Good, and Digitalization.