Museveni tips soft-drink companies to use locally produced fruits

By Vision reporter

KAMPALA - President Yoweri Museveni has advised soft-drink companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi to process locally produced fruits in order to cut down on some of the costs incurred in the importation of some of the ingredients for making their products.

Meeting officials from Coca-Cola and Pepsi this week, the President noted that Uganda can easily outcompete other players in the production of coffee, banana and milk, among others, on the world market because the country uses cheap family labour in the production of those products.

The investors who had talks with the President at State House, Nakasero were led by the Regional Chairman of Coca-Cola, Philipp H. Gutsche and Executive Chairman of Pepsi, Amos Nzeyi.

Museveni told his guests that his government is promoting the growing of fruits by the people of Uganda so that the produce is in abundant quantities to guarantee constant supply to the processing plants.

He reiterated that Uganda needs more production of goods.

According to a press release from State House, Gutsche and Nzeyi appealed to the Museveni to consider reducing excise duty from 13% to 7%.

In another engagement also at State House, the President held talks with Italian entrepreneurs led by the Italian Ambassador to Uganda Stefano Dejak.

They discussed a wide range of issues on the prospective opportunities that are available in the country, particularly in the areas of energy, oil refining, renewable energy and wildlife conservation.

Also discussed was the possible establishment of a long-term mission to avail electricity to Ugandans in the rural areas using renewal energy solar sources so that families are able to use television, refrigerators, charging phones and pressing clothes, among others.

Museveni advised the Italians to link up with the responsible government ministries for further discussions.

Several Ugandan ministers attended the talks while the Italian team included Alberto Pisanti (Chief Executive Officer of Absolute Energy Company), Juan Francisco of Gamarra BLA Investment, and Paolo Barlitta, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gruppo Barletta.