Kadaga asks India to support Uganda's SMEs

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga with the new Indian High Commissioner to Uganda, Ravi Shankar at Parliament on April 21, 2017. Photo/Courtesy

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has asked the Indian government to extend support and training to Small scale and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda.

She made the request while meeting the Indian High Commissioner Ravi Shankar whom she hosted on April 21, at Parliament.

According to a release from her office, Kadaga during the interaction with the envoy said that India's economy had grown largely due to small scale businesses operating favourably and successfully.

She noted that it would be a good idea for Uganda's business community to benchmark with India's business community.

"Ugandans operate mainly small and medium scale enterprises, which essentially support the economy; being aware of the great contribution similarly structured business have made to the Indian economy, I would like to see Ugandan traders being given an opportunity to go and benchmark in India and learn the best practices from SMEs," the Speaker said.

Kadaga added that the Indian government should also bring more investors to Uganda. "We want to see more of the major Indian businesses coming to Uganda to elevate our economy and to provide more employment opportunities for the formal sector which is still small and growing."


The Speaker also asked the commissioner to have a programme where parliamentary staff can benchmark on best practices from their counterparts in India.

"I am informed that the government of India has a diplomatic training centre. I would like to see staff of the Parliament of Uganda attend," Kadaga said.

Shankar in his remarks said the Indian government was ready to work with Uganda to support its development.

"We can organise for the Ugandan business community to go and benchmark with the small scale businesses in India and I will liaise with both business communities on either side to work out an arrangement," Shankar said. He added:"It is in our interest as well to see that more of our major businesses set up shop in Uganda because this will bring them closer to the market and eliminate export costs to Uganda and Africa where most of our market is found."

Shankar also said that India has a Bureau of Parliamentary Studies where every year parliamentary staff from different countries are invited to take part in various studies.

Shankar further said that the government of India has introduced an e-visa, which has eased travel to India.

Shankar took up his new posting as Indian High Commissioner to Uganda on  January 16, 2017. He previously served as deputy chief of mission in France