New Saudi envoy to focus on trade

By Patrick Jaramogi

Uganda’s products have a competitive edge in the Gulf region, the newly appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia has disclosed.

 Dr. Yahya Rashid Ssemuddu, who is also accredited to Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Yemen, has pledged to strengthen economic ties with the Gulf region.

“My immediate task is to strengthen the relationships with the Gulf region countries through the promotion of trade and investments, education, agriculture and oil related technologies,” he told New Vision on Tuesday.

Ssemuddu, was recently appointed ambassador by President Yoweri Museveni, in a reshuffle of diplomats.

Ssemuddu who has been Uganda’s Goodwill Ambassador for Investment and Trade in the Gulf Region, said products such as coffee, honey, tea, are on high demand in the Gulf. ‘Uganda’s coffee and honey is loved so much in the gulf. All we need to do is to add value to it and reap big,” he said.

Ssemuddu who spent 18 years studying in Saudi Arabia and said he will use his long experience in the region, and contacts to set up regional representative offices in all the seven countries, as part of strengthening Uganda’s ties in the Gulf region.

“Uganda and Saudi Arabia are, God willing going to enjoy a strong relationship, better than ever before; there are several opportunities that only need to be well exploited,” he said.

Saudi Arabia is mutually linked to Uganda, with common membership to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the host of the Islamic Holy sites of Mecca and Medina, where Muslims from all over the world including Ugandans carry out annual pilgrimage in fulfillment of the Fifth Pillar of Islam.