European Union (EU) head of the delegation to Uganda Jan Sadek says over 3,600 individuals have attended the first day of the 3rd Uganda-EU Business Forum (UEUBF) at Speke Resort Hotel in Munyonyo, Kampala.

“We have more than 3,600 individuals registered, both in-person and virtually. Representatives from various EU member states, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and others, are joining us,” he said at the official opening of the three-day forum on Tuesday, March 5.

He welcomed all the individuals to Uganda: “You will agree with me that Uganda is indeed the Pearl of Africa. My wish, and the wish of my team who has worked hard to organise this event is that we shall have three highly inspiring, interactive and productive days together. We follow in the footsteps of the successful 2020 and 2022 editions”.

The high-level summit, which is aimed at facilitating structured collaboration between European and Ugandan private sector and public actors, is the largest and most influential joint Uganda-EU event on doing business and investing in Uganda.

It is running under the theme: Boosting trade and investments, with the sub-theme being: What can Uganda gain from global gateway?

The EU ambassador also said 40 Ugandan products and business ideas will be showcased with the aim of attracting EU investments. 

“Our objective is to increase EU investments in Uganda, support EU investors in Uganda, and increase Ugandan exports to the EU.

The objective of the Uganda-EU Business Forum is to attract European investment in Uganda and to increase trade and notably Ugandan exports to the EU, and the region while supporting those already invested in Uganda,” he stated.

He noted that the EU’s share of foreign direct investments (FDIs) in Uganda was in 2022 more than 40% of the total or euros 1.2 billion, adding with delight that on the trade side, the EU and Uganda have a healthy trade turnover, currently euros €1.5 billion (about shillings 6.2 trillion).

Myriam Ferran, the deputy director general at DG International Partnerships, European Commission, presented the EU's Global Gateway, which is the EU’s contribution to narrowing the global investment gap worldwide.

He said the EU, a bloc of 27 member states, offers to partner countries such as Uganda to support economic development and foster sustainable investments in connectivity.

“We do so in a rules-based and sustainable way. Our partners know that when they choose to team up on Global Gateway projects, the EU offers attractive financial conditions to reduce risks and improve debt sustainability,” she said.

Uganda’s Vice-President, Jessica Alupo, urged the participants to take advantage of the UEUBF, especially the business-to-business and business-to-government forums and make investment and business deals.

Alupo, who was represented by the minister of trade, industry and co-operatives, Francis Mwebesa, also urged the participants to exploit the Ugandan market as well as that of East Africa, Africa and the globe.