The agriculture ministry has called on EU investors to consider the cold chain, packaging, construction of warehouses, cargo freight, and inputs manufacture, as areas of investment to help Uganda increase its agricultural exports.

Currently, Uganda’s target is to increase agricultural produce from the current $1.4 billion to $4 billion annually in the medium term.

The call was made by the Minister of State for Animal Husbandry Bright Rwamirama on Wednesday, March 6, at the ongoing EU Uganda Business Summit, taking place at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

Rwamirama explained exports in question will be taken up by existing markets such as the East African Community (EAC), The Common Market for Eastern & Southern Africa (COMESA), European Union and Asian Countries to mention among others.

President Yoweri Museveni arrives at Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo for Uganda -EU Business summit. On arrival, the President took a tour of the exhibition hall.

He also called for investments into commercial seed production, irrigation equipment, Mechanization, animal vaccines, banking, and the insurance sector in addition to agro-tourism.

“For all this effort, we call upon our strategic partners, many of whom present here to join us on this roadmap for agriculture development agenda. This business forum comes at a time when the Uganda Government is implementing the National Development (NDPIII) where the Agro Industrialisation Program is key in delivering transformation and wealth creation for the majority of Ugandans,” Rwamirama said.

President took a tour of the exhibition hall.

He added that the NDP III which ends in June to pave the way for NDPIV, has put emphasis on program interventions aimed at increasing agricultural production and productivity through value addition, and market access for regional and international markets.

According to him, Uganda has registered a significant increase in the value of exports to the European market. For example, Uganda has accrued 800m euros (about sh3. 3 trillion) in export value compared to the import value of €700m (about shs2. 9 trillion) registered by the EU, Rwamirama added.

“This has been largely from the exports of coffee (214 MT), fruits and vegetables (5.8m MT), flowers, and fish products (27.5 MT). In the same way, the European Union has been exporting medical and pharmaceutical products, motor vehicles among others to Uganda,” he told investors at Speke Resort Munyonyo.

The Uganda-EU Business Forum (UEUBF) is one of the largest business meetings in Uganda designed to mobilise investments into Uganda and strengthen Ugandan exports, contributing to the partnership between Uganda and the EU.

The theme of this year’s UEUBF is“Boosting Trade and Investments” with the sub-theme of “What can Uganda gain from Global Gateway?”.