The Minister of state for foreign affairs Henry Oryem Okello has urged Ugandans involved in the trade sector to take advantage of the growing relationship between Uganda and the United Arab Emirates.
The Minister who was speaking at the 52nd National Day of the UAE said the relationship between Uganda and the United Arab Emirates is strong, invaluable, and is developing further.
“Uganda has signed several agreements and others are being negotiated with the UAE,” he said.
“I wish to urge the business community to take advantage of these enabling instruments to promote trade.”The UAE ambassador to Uganda, Abdallah Hassan Alshami pledged his country’s commitment to build strong bilateral trade ties with Uganda for increased economic growth.
The relations between the two nations have flourished across political, economic, and humanitarian realms, with trade reaching an impressive 3.8 billion US dollars in 2022.
Highlighting the commitment to global issues, Abdallah announced the “Year of Sustainability” focusing on international financial structures, loss and damage, food security, and water scarcity.
The UAE’s strides in sustainable economic development were showcased, with foreign trade exceeding one trillion and 239 billion dirhams in the first half of 2023.
According to Abdalla, under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE actively engaged in humanitarian efforts, prioritizing development projects over typical relief operations.
Abdallah added that the country’s advocacy for tolerance is reflected in initiatives like the Abrahamic House and a historic resolution on hate speech and extremism, emphasizing the link to conflict escalation.
The UAE looks ahead with optimism, expressing a keen interest in deepening political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties with Uganda.
