Premier Nabbanja showcases Uganda’s trade, investment potential at Expo 2025 Osaka

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Uganda took centre stage at the ongoing Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan, with a vibrant celebration of its National Day that highlighted the country’s cultural richness and investment potential.

The celebration, which started earlier today (Wednesday, October 8, 2025) at the Uganda Pavilion, attracted hundreds of visitors and dignitaries. Ndere Troupe captivated the audience with traditional music and dance. 

Uganda’s presence at the world exposition, which officially closes this Sunday, has spanned six months and provided a unique platform for promoting trade, tourism, and bilateral cooperation with Japan and the wider international community.

While addressing guests at the event, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja extended warm greetings from President Yoweri Museveni and thanked the Government and people of Japan for their hospitality and excellent organisation of the global event. She noted that Uganda’s participation in the expo had significantly strengthened diplomatic and commercial relations between the two countries.

“This is my second visit to Japan as Prime Minister. I first came in December 2022 for the inaugural Uganda–Japan Business Forum. Since then, we have registered remarkable progress in expanding trade and investment between our two countries,” she said.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja (2nd left) during the ongoing Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan. (Credit: Edna Mubiru)

According to Nabbanja, Japanese interest in Ugandan products and services is growing. Several partnerships have already taken root as a result of the expo and previous engagements.

Selamat N. Vanilla Co. Ltd, a Japanese company, has partnered with Uganda’s Gourmet Gardens (U) Ltd to add value to vanilla for export. Ugandan coffee is now reaching Japanese consumers directly through Gorilla Coffee, a local company operating in Japan. 

Other companies, such as AC-Planta, are working with Ugandan scientists to roll out Skeepon, a new fertiliser product undergoing local trials. The government is in discussions with Prof. Jong-Myong Kim, the founder of AC-Planta, to establish a production plant in Uganda. Meanwhile, Japanese nutrition company Saraya is exploring a partnership with the Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre to develop blended food products using Ugandan matooke and bean powder for export to Japan.

“These are just a few examples of how the expo has served as a valuable platform for business linkages,” the Prime Minister said. “We now invite more Japanese companies to invest in Uganda, and we reaffirm our commitment to creating a favourable environment for international investors.”

Uganda’s theme at the expo, "Empowering Lives," reflects the country’s focus on inclusive development and leveraging its young population, which constitutes over 70 percent of Ugandans. Nabbanja underscored the country’s economic potential, noting that Uganda remains one of the most peaceful and secure nations in the region.

She cited several reasons Uganda stands out as a top investment destination in Africa, with one being its central location in Africa. This makes it a key gateway to three major regional markets, namely the East African Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

She added that Uganda is endowed with fertile soils, fresh water sources including the River Nile, and abundant mineral resources such as rare earth elements, gold, iron ore, cobalt, lithium, oil and gas. 

She also highlighted key investment opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, tourism, infrastructure, energy, health, manufacturing, mineral development, and ICT. Uganda’s current development strategy aims to grow the economy from $61.3b to $500b by 2040.

Priorities

To achieve this, the Government is focusing on four priority sectors: agro-industrialisation, tourism development, mineral development including oil and gas, and science, technology and innovation.

“We have a long-standing relationship with Japan built on mutual respect, trust, and shared development goals,” said Nabbanja. “Let us build on that foundation to unlock new opportunities that benefit both our peoples.”

The Japanese central government minister in charge of overseeing the expo, Yoshitaka Ito, said Uganda remains a key partner. 

"Uganda is located as a key transportation hub in East Africa, connecting between landlocked countries and the Indian Ocean. It possesses a young population and abundant natural resources such as oil. Furthermore, as the largest host of refugees in Africa, Uganda greatly contributes to the region's peace and stability," he said, pledging to build closer ties.