KAMPALA – State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem has hailed what ‘strategic invaluable relations’ between Uganda and United Arab Emirates.
Speaking during the opening of the fourth annual Uganda-UAE convention held virtually due to the Coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday, Mr Oryem noted that the UAE has proved to be an important link between Uganda and the Middle East and this has been the most important hub for transiting to America, Europe and Asia.
“The relationship between Uganda and the United Arab Emirates is strong, strategic invaluable and is developing further. Uganda has signed several agreements and others are being negotiated with the UAE. I wish to urge the business community to take advantage of these enabling instruments to promote trade.
The UAE is the most important crossroad country in the Middle East, linking Uganda with the Middle East and is the most important hub for transiting to the Americas and Europe, to the West and Asia – China, Japan to the East,” he said.
See full speech below
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The Right Hon. Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda
The Representative of the UAE Government
Your Excellencies, the Ambassadors
Hon Ministers and Ministers of State
Permanent Secretaries
Hon. Members of Parliament,
Heads of Parastatals,
The Business Community, Distinguished Guests and participants, Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning!
First of all, I wish to thank you all for attending this virtual convention. The digital world is now the new norm because of the current Covid-19 pandemic.
I am delighted to be part of this Virtual Convention and I wish to mention that I am so proud that the Embassy under its Commercial and Economic Diplomacy program has been able to organize this Convention. These efforts are very commendable.
Commercial and Economic Diplomacy is one of the core functions of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Missions are mandated to ensure that this function is implemented. The Ministry funded eight pilot Missions to undertake this function and Abu Dhabi Mission is one of them. I am glad the Mission is implementing this function effectively as evidenced by this convention. This will enable the Ministry to contribute in the realization of the government’s focus on attracting Foreign Direct
Investment, attracting trade and tourism to Uganda from this region as a a whole and from United Arab Emirates in particular as part of the implementation of NDP III.
The relationship between Uganda and the United Arab Emirates is strong, strategic invaluable and is developing further. Uganda has signed several agreements and others are being negotiated with the UAE. I wish to urge the business community to take advantage of these enabling instruments to promote trade.
The UAE is the most important crossroad country in the Middle East, linking Uganda with the Middle East and is the most important hub for transiting to the Americas and Europe, to the West and Asia – China, Japan to the East.
I wish to inform you that Uganda is preparing to participate in the Dubai World Expo 2020. The government of UAE has generously offered Uganda a Pavilion at the Opportunity theme park. We are very appreciative and grateful for the offer and will utilize the Pavilion to showcase Uganda for what it is. Participation at this Expo is expected to promote Uganda’s products, culture and diversity to the entire world.
There is still enormous opportunities for the increase of trade between our two countries. We need to involve the private sector more
in Convention like this as they are in front line of business and trade, in order to increase the trade volume between our countries.
I wish to thank the sponsors of this Convention, especially Post Bank Uganda for partnering with the Embassy in Abu Dhabi to implement Commercial and Economic Diplomacy. In the same vein, let me also recognize the untiring work of the organizers of this Virtual Convention. Thank you.