The Uganda Investment Authority won the award at a special award ceremony in Abu Dhabi on the first evening of the three-day event.
The award was in recognition of Uganda’s impressive ability to handle Foreign Direct Investment. The Rwanda Development Board was named runner up.
Abu Dhabi (8th May 2023) – The Republic of Uganda’s investment authority was today celebrated for the ‘Best FDI Project in the East Africa Community Region’ at the 12th edition of the Annual Investment Awards (AIM Global 2023) at a special awards ceremony held in Abu Dhabi.
The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), which is the agency mandated by the county’s President to promote investment opportunities in the country, was hailed for its work in helping efficiently facilitate foreign investment in a new multi-million dollar mineral processing project.
Some 170 countries are participating in the meeting that runs from 8th -10th May 2023, including top executives, decision makers, senior corporate leaders, government officials, and civil society representatives. It seeks to help identify untapped business opportunities and promote mutually beneficial cooperation
The award was accepted by UIA’s Director-General, Robert Mukiza, who said: “Thank you for the award which I accept on behalf Uganda and H. E. President Yoweri Museveni. I encourage you to continue to choose Uganda as your preferred investment destination.”
Mr. Mukiza told delegates: “I would like to stress the importance of the UAE to Uganda. The challenges we are confronted with are the same: energy transition and climate change. UAE is a mature Oil & Gas producer; Uganda is an emerging Oil Producer. UAE is in a desert; Uganda is in a tropical environment and one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Yet we are all confronting the issue of energy transition albeit at different levels of development and climate scenarios.
“Therefore, in the spirit of working together, we want you to count on us in pursuit of this common agenda of energy security and responsible transition. Our investments need to embrace this reality. We look forward to walking this journey together where we shall confront the climate change issues for Africa and the world as partners.”
The AIM is taking place for the first time in the United Arab Emirate’s capital city, Abu Dhabi, under the theme “The Investment Paradigm Shift: Future Investment Opportunities to Foster Sustainable Economic Growth, Diversity and Prosperity.”
It is highlighting five key pillars – startups, foreign direct investment, small and medium enterprises, future cities, and foreign portfolio investments – which are all aimed at stimulating local and international economic growth.
Celebrating the event, Dawood Al Shezawi, the Annual Investment Meeting’s chairman, said: “We look forward to sharing our vision for the future and exploring new partnerships that will help drive global economic growth.”
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Assets:
High Res. Imagery at – https://zbek.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/Zebek/Eqowo1YnfgNGp3AWLshckuUBDNRbWWmkcAzsA5PcxPKc0Q?e=57qfjR
Information AIM Global 2023: https://www.aimcongress.com/
Information Uganda Investment Authority: www.ugandainvest.go.ug
For further information contact on this announcement contact the UIA’s David Rupiny on drupiny@ugandainvest.go.ug and mobile phone +256 785291625
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NOTES TO EDITORS
BACKGROUND
• Uganda is one of the fastest growing regions in the world, growing steadily in both population and GDP.
• Uganda is secure and is the most open country in the region for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
• Uganda has a strong natural resource base, with several unexploited mineral deposits & tourism opportunities.
• Lancet COVID-19 Commission data ranked Uganda as the best country in Africa in terms of suppressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Robert Mukiza, Director-General of Uganda Investment Authority
Robert Mukiza was appointed Director-General of Uganda Investment Authority in July 2021. His role involves promoting, attracting and facilitating investment in Uganda, advising the government on investment policy and advocating for a competitive business environment in Uganda. Prior to joining the UIA, Mr. Mukiza was Deputy Director for the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Representative to Ethiopia, the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). He served as a Director of Hong Kong-based Acadia Energy; Head of the United Nations Country Team Coordination Unit in Botswana; Lead Economist for the United Nations in the Maldives; and a researcher at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development in Switzerland. He has studied Strategic Leadership at the Saïd Business School of Oxford University.