The Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Mr Sanjay Tanna, has renewed calls for stronger trade and investment ties with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He made the remarks during a meeting with the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Uganda, H. E. Mohammed Bin Khalil Faroudah, at the Trade Ministry offices in Kampala this week.

“We are here to work. Uganda is ready for business. The opportunities are immense, and we need your collaboration and support,” Tanna said.

He noted that the Government of Uganda is focusing on strengthening economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and others, especially in the area of agro-processing.

The minister said Uganda is adopting a demand-driven production model to ensure that farmers produce according to market needs rather than speculative production, which often results in oversupply and low prices. He invited Saudi Arabia to buy Uganda’s sugar, saying Uganda currently produces nearly 300,000 tonnes of surplus sugar annually, with capacity to increase production to 500,000 tonnes if additional export markets are secured.

“We need your support to find markets for our products. Uganda has enormous agricultural potential and is one of the most fertile countries in the region,” Tanna said.

The minister appealed to Saudi investors to explore Uganda’s tourist attractions such as Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, the source of the River Nile and the Rwenzori Mountains. He also encouraged investment in mineral value addition, manufacturing and technology-driven industries.

Ambassador Faroudah welcomed Uganda’s commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations, emphasising the importance of continued engagement between government officials and technical teams to translate opportunities into concrete investments.

He called for the operationalisation of the Saudi-Uganda Joint Technical Committee for Trade Development established in 2025, to provide a structured platform for bilateral dialogue between the two countries.

Uganda exports to Saudi Arabia are currently valued at $9.11 million, and its total imports from Saudi Arabia are valued at about $149.15 million.