The third Uganda-EU Business Forum (UEUBF)is set to take place between March 5 and March 7, 2024, at the Speke Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.

The business forum is a high-level summit facilitating structured collaboration between European and Ugandan private sector and public actors.  It is the largest and most influential joint Uganda-EU event on doing business and investing in Uganda.

The Chairman of Uganda Investment Authority (UIA”), Morrison Rwakakamba, speaking at a press conference organized to announce the business forum said the country will showcase bankable projects.

“We will continue to illuminate investment opportunities that we can present to EU investors. We see lucrative investment opportunities in pharmaceuticals, edible oils, electronics, and agro-equipment.

“We strongly believe that the Forum will pave the way for a more remarkable coalition among Ugandan public and private sector trade and investment support institutions to work together in making investments happen in Uganda.”

State Minister of Finance for Investment and Privatization, Evelyn Anite, urged European investors to take advantage of investment and business opportunities that will be created by the 3rd edition of the Forum.

“Government of Uganda fully supports the 3rd Uganda-EU Business Forum and we thank the EU for choosing Uganda as a preferred investment destination. This is an excellent opportunity for Ugandans to seize,” Anite said.

The business forum will attract the participation of over 1500 individuals, both in-person and virtually. Representatives from various European nations, including France, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Austria, the Czech Republic, and others are expected to attend.

European Union Ambassador to Uganda, Jan Sadek, said the business forum presents a hybrid event of exclusive business meetings in Uganda designed to mobilize investments into the country and strengthen Ugandan exports, contributing to the partnership between Uganda and the Europeans.

“There is a lot that Uganda can gain from the Global Gateway, which is the EU’s investment strategy aimed at leveraging investments for large-scale initiatives in sectors that are key for sustainable and inclusive growth in partner countries.

“Through the Global Gateway, the EU is able to pool resources from our Member States and European financial institutions to narrow investment gaps while promoting competitiveness and security of supply chains,” said Ambassador Sadek.

Trade between Uganda and the European Union is at an impressive 1.2 Euro and growing. The EU exports stand at 700m Euro while Ugandan exports to the EU are at 800m Euro.

The theme of this year’s Forum is “Boosting Trade and Investments”, and the sub-theme is “What can Uganda gain from Global Gateway?” President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is confirmed as the Chief Guest at the Forum and will be joined by the EU Deputy Director General for International Partnerships Myriam Ferran.

The Uganda-EU Business Forum is organized by the EU Delegation to Uganda together with its Member States, in partnership with the Government of Uganda, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), and the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), under the Sustainable Business for Uganda (SB4U) Team Europe Initiative.