KAMPALA: Government of Uganda, the Embassy of Turkey in Uganda and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEiK) have set May 10-11, 2022, as the dates for the Uganda-Turkey Investment Summit 2022.
The announcement was jointly made at Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday by the State Minister of Investment, Evelyn Anite; Ambassador of Turkey to Uganda Kerem Alp and other senior officials from the two countries.
“We are pleased to announce that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda Investment Authority, The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEiK) will jointly host the Uganda-Turkey Investment, Trade, Industry and Tourism Summit 2022 from 10th to 11th May 2022 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo,” said part of the joint statement.
President Museveni is expected to be the chief guest at the summit which will attract over 600 investors.
It is under the theme; “Accelerating Investment, Trade, Industry and Tourism between Uganda and Turkey in the Post COVID-19 era.”
The Summit will climax with the launch of the Uganda-Turkey Industrial Park and Trade Centre in Nakasongola, which will be constructed through a partnership between the Uganda Investment Authority and the UPDF’s National Enterprise Corporation.
Turkey opened a fully-fledged Mission in Kampala in 2010 and Uganda reciprocated by opening a Mission in Ankara in 2011.
Both countries are members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and have implemented several joint projects in the Education, Agriculture value addition, Environment, Infrastructural Development, ICT and Construction spheres through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).
The trade volume between both countries increased to USD$71m in 2021, up from USD$63m in 2020. In 2021 alone, Turkish exports to Uganda increased by 26%, and Uganda’s exports to Turkey increased by 418%.
Besides establishing a common Industrial Park and Trade Centre, Uganda-Turkey business Summit is also expected to promote Uganda’s access to the Turkish market population of 85 million, a GDP of 720 Billion USD and occupying a unique geographic position lying partly in Europe and partly in Asia.
It will also present Uganda’s investment opportunities to Turkish potential investors and attract them into value addition in the Mining sector agro-processing, construction, manufacturing and energy.