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Paris, France | THE INDEPENDENT | Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development Ramathan Ggoobi is in Paris to engage French investors, business leaders, and government officials.
He made his first pitch for why Uganda remains one of the most attractive investment destinations in Africa on Monday, on day-one of the Inaugural Uganda-France Investment, Tourism, Trade Conference. Together with Dr. Lilly Ajarova, Executive Director Uganda Tourism Board, he outlined the various opportunities from mining, agriculture, tourism and business that exist.
“We have a brand-new National Development Plan (NDPIV) anchored on a Tenfold Growth Strategy,” said Ggoobi, adding that the four key priority investment areas are the ATMS (Agro-based industrialization,Tourism & travel,mineral-based industrialization as well as Science,Technology and Innovation including IT.
Apart from ATMS, Ggoobi said there are other investment opportunities in construction, electricity, social service sector, irrigation and water and industrial parks.
He invited French Investors to Uganda to partake in the “economically rewarding, exciting and renewed ambition of growing Uganda’s economy into a 500-billion-dollar economy (£476 billion) in the next 15 years.”
The three-day conference, hosted by Uganda’s embassy in France, aims to intensify the relations between Uganda and France in trade and tourism as well as present to potential investors in Europe the available opportunities in Uganda
The high-level forum brings together government officials and top business leaders from France, Spain, and Portugal. It aims to leverage Uganda’s strengths across multiple sectors and is a result of close collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), and Uganda Tourism Board (UTB).
Day one has been great with presentations by @ruth_amule @Tybisa @rggoobi @mofpedU @TourismBoardUg @LillyAjarova @URAuganda @ugandainvest
We were delighted to have among others @TotalEnergies and @MEDEF_I who shared their success stories in Uganda. pic.twitter.com/EqYiDmitdI— Uganda Embassy Paris (@UgandaParis) February 17, 2025
Also in Paris for the conference are Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, the Executive Director Uganda Investment Authority, Robert Mukiiza and Commissioner Customs Uganda Revenue Authority, Abel Kagumire.
In her opening remarks, Uganda’s Ambassador to France, Amb. Doreen Ruth Amule said that the event would enhance trade relations and foster trade partnerships that increase Ugandan exports to France and support French businesses entering Ugandan markets.
“We would like to encourage Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) engaging the French and Ugandan stakeholders in discussions that can drive sustainable growth and infrastructure development in Uganda,” said Amule adding that by hosting the conference, the Embassy seeks to create a collaborative platform where stakeholders from both countries can explore investment opportunities, build sustainable tourism partnerships, and strengthen trade networks.
After Monday’s presentations, moderated by Amule, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, France, Spain Portugal, and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, several meetings are lined up Tuesday with France Treasury, Airbus, Sagemcom and Satlantis Spanish Company officials.
