Modi tips Ugandans on value addition

Indian Fashion designer Riyaz Ganji and entrepreneur, Javid Merchant meet Yoweri Museveni and Indian Prime Miniter Narendra Modi. Modi was in Uganda for a state visit. Photos by Roderick Ahimbazwe

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on Ugandans to embrace value addition if they are to produce competitive agricultural products on the world market.

He said Uganda is blessed with fertile soils, hence the need to utilise the opportunity so that the country becomes the world's top food supplier.

"Most of the world's soils are depleted, and that is why many are growing inorganic crops in order to survive. In Uganda, the soils are still fertile and almost all the food produced here is organic. The country should add value to this food and sell it to the world," Modi said.

The premier, who was on a two-day state visit, added that the world today is interested in organic foods because they are healthy, which gives Uganda the opportunity to tap into this gap. Modi made the remarks while addressing the IndiaUganda business forum, which was held at Kampala Serena Hotel yesterday.

He pledged that India would support Uganda in their efforts to use her resources to develop. Modi also said Uganda is blessed with a large number of youth, noting that if they are given skills, the country will develop at a faster rate.

He said the young population in India is embracing technology development and this is something Ugandan youth can borrow from. "Indian youths are using innovations to catch up with the rest of the world. If Ugandans too embrace the same approach, the country will develop at a faster rate," he said.

President Yoweri Museveni requested the Indian government to help Uganda in areas of investment so that the country can produce for the local, regional and continental markets.

"And this process has a chance because the prime minister has moved with a big number of businesspeople from India. This is the first step in our quest for more investment. I assure everyone who wants to invest that Uganda is the right country because of the condussive environment," he stressed.

At the same event, the Confederation of Industries of India (CII) and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) signed a memorandum of understanding to work closely together. Patrick Bitature, the chairman of PSFU, noted that the business forum had strengthened the business relationship between the two countries.