Museveni opens investment forum, hails Vision Group

By Vision Reporter

President Yoweri Museveni Thursday opened the Uganda Investment Forum 2013 with an invitation to International entrepreneurs to take advantage of vast investment opportunities available in Uganda and Africa in general.

The President also hailed the Vision Group Vision Group for its campaign of preserving Lake Victoria which is one of the main tourist attractions in the region.

“I am here to encourage you to invest in Uganda and Africa. There are very many investment opportunities in various sectors you can take advantage of”, the President said.

The two-day forum taking place in Kampala is running under the theme “Driving growth in Africa” and has attracted 172 foreign delegates as well as 230 local entrepreneurs.

The Forum will among other things discuss investment opportunities in Uganda and Africa, the strengthening of Africa/Asia partnership and the key economic sectors of Uganda.

The conference is graced by among others, the visiting senior minister for International Monetary Co-operation of Sri Lanka Dr. Sarah Amunugamat, the Chairman of the Commonwealth Business Council Dr. Mohan Kaul and the chairman of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Mr. Sindiso Ndema Ngwenya.

President Museveni assured participants especially foreign investors of a ready market for the products nationally, regionally and internationally, saying Uganda has all the attributes for an investment to thrive citing enough consumers, good infrastructure, an educated skilled human resource, a correct economic and regulatory frame work as well as a Macro economic system that is very stable.

The President also cited areas of available investment opportunities like hydro power projects along the river Nile and other sites, construction of a railway line with an improved gauge that will link up Uganda with her neighbors, Agro-processing, fertilizers as well as tourism among others.

Museveni pledged to support out sourcing and partnering with scientists especially those from Makerere University who have come up with new innovations and would like to patent their products.

He also thanked the Chairman of the Commonwealth Business Council Dr. Kaul for doing a wonderful job describing him as a fantastic worker.

The Minister of Finance Maria Kiwanuka thanked the Commonwealth Business Council for hosting the Uganda Investment Forum 2013 in Uganda.

She said the forum will offer both International and local participants opportunity to explore and share experiences and identify investment areas that they can partner in.

The Chairman of the Business Council Dr. Morgan Kaul paid an emotional tribute to the Late James Mulwana for his business acumen. He said CBC will always remember Mulwana for setting a good example to all entrepreneurs. He however said CBCs task is to liberate entrepreneurs in Africa, across the commonwealth countries and beyond.