SCCI holds UAE- Uganda trade Forum to boost ties

The forum featured one-on-one business meetings between representatives of Emirati businesses participating in the mission and major Ugandan companies across various key sectors and industries. These meetings focused on exploring ways to foster economic partnerships, exchange expertise, and uncover new investment opportunities between the business communities of both countries.

The forum was attended by H.E Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, who led the Chamber’s trade delegation; Hon. Mwebesa Francis, Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, and H.E. Abdalla Hassan AlShamsi, Ambassador of the UAE to the Republic of Uganda.

Also present were Mohamed Rashid Ali Demas and Nasir Musabeh Ahmed Al Tunaiji, SCCI Board Members; Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Business Sector at the Sharjah Chamber, and other officials from SCCI and SEDC, alongside business executives, investors, and representatives from both Emirati and Ugandan business communities.

The UAE-Uganda Trade and Investment Forum showcased promising investment opportunities available in both Sharjah and Uganda, highlighting the services provided by various institutions and entities. Discussions explored ways to expand economic cooperation across multiple sectors, focusing on priority areas in trade, industry, and investment in key vital sectors.

In his remarks, His Excellency Abdallah Sultan Al Owais praised the robust relations between the UAE and Uganda, emphasising the Sharjah Chamber’s commitment to advancing economic cooperation between the two countries. 

He highlighted the Chamber's role in organising trade missions and business forums that promote reciprocal investment, facilitate fruitful partnerships among business leaders, and enhance connectivity between the UAE and Ugandan business communities, paving the way for future investment projects. 

Al Owais pointed to the remarkable growth in bilateral trade between the UAE and Uganda, with trade volumes soaring from AED 70 million in 2014 to nearly USD 2 billion by mid-2022. Non-oil trade between the UAE and Uganda also saw significant growth, from around USD 228.7 million in 2015 to approximately USD 1.226 billion in 2023.

For his part, Hon. Mwebesa Francis commended the Sharjah Chamber for organising a forum that brought together a select group of business representatives and public and private sector leaders from the UAE and Uganda under one roof. He noted that the forum served as an important platform for exploring potential partnerships and strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.

He noted that the UAE-Uganda economic partnership, established in the 1970s, has seen consistent growth across key sectors, including investment, trade, renewable energy, environment, and industry, as well as other areas aligned with the developmental goals of both countries. Uganda's exports to the UAE have increased from USD 1.062 billion in 2021 to USD 1.366 billion in 2023.

Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz Al Shamsi emphasized that the forum served as a vital platform to strengthen connections between the business communities of Sharjah and Uganda, showcasing the investment opportunities and advantages offered by both countries. 

He also outlined the range of incentives and facilities available to Ugandan investors and companies interested in establishing their businesses in Sharjah alongside thousands of foreign firms.

The Sharjah Chamber’s trade mission to Uganda includes site visits to several local companies and factories, providing the Emirati delegation with an in-depth understanding of the production mechanisms and the needs of the Ugandan market.

The mission, concluding today, Thursday, also features a series of business meetings with investors, officials, and leaders from the chambers of commerce and industry, aimed at giving a fresh boost to the commercial ties between Sharjah and Uganda.