2020 was a tough and challenging year for businesses, says Sudhir
The businessman said 2020 has been a tough year for individuals and collectively as a nation but said the country has come out of it stronger.
Businessman Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia has said 2020 was the most challenging year for the Ruparelia Group since its founding more than 30 years ago due to a national lockdown imposed by the Government to help curd the spread of COVID-19.
"As one of Uganda's biggest employers, and the most prominent players in real estate, education and hospitality sectors, having to shut down our doors to thousands of our staff and our customers is one of the hardest things we had to do in 2020," Sudhir said.
Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia made the remarks during the opening of Noor's Restaurant at Kingdom Kampala.
Noor's Restaurant is owned by Noor Hashim, the daughter of Dr. Mohammed Hashim.The businessman said 2020 has been a tough year for individuals and collectively as a nation but said the country has come out of it stronger.
"As a group, we would like to thank the government, under the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, whose steadfast, yet, empathetic and hands-on style of management, spared Uganda, the brunt of the first wave of Covid-19," Sudhir who is also the Honorary Consul of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal to Uganda said.
"We would also like to thank the government, for the various initiatives such as the credit relief measures announced in April 2020, the tax administration measures announced by Uganda Revenue Authority, etc. that eased some pain for the private sector."
Sudhir added that with the emergence of various vaccines in different countries to treat the virus, people will no longer be dying in large numbers.
He also wished Ugandans a happy and bright new year 2021.