Government to prioritise commercial diplomacy

The Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi has urged Ugandan Ambassadors improve their efforts in projecting a good image of Uganda as one way of attracting investment and increasing tourism to the country.

Ssekandi said Government is to increase resource allocation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cater for commercial diplomacy and also boost infrastructure development at the country's missions abroad.

Speaking during the closing of the one-week annual Ambassadors conference at Munyonyo, he emphasized that the forum should address the deeper understanding of the investment plan of the Government and ensure the ministry's relevance to the needs of Ugandans home and abroad.

He added that the conference is significant for government to enable the diplomats to network before returning to their stations of accreditation focusing on key sectors at home which are vital for promoting Uganda as an investment destination and trading partner with other nations.

Ssekandi said that the conference was also an ideal forum to bring together all heads of missions to evaluate past achievements and refocus energies on overcoming challenges for the better performance of the country's foreign policy.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sam Kutesa said that issues of continued significance include traditional foreign policy issues like peace and security, promotion of regional cooperation, integration and good neighbourliness and respect for international law and treaty obligations.  

Kutesa also revealed that government will maintain new strategic investment plans like peace efforts in the region to effectively keep track of trade activities and address the increasing number of refugees which he said are hurting the country's economy.

The forum under the theme "Implementing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' strategic Investment plan towards realization of Vision 2040", was also addressed by the Dean of Ambassadors Mull Katende.