In a capacity-building workshop held at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, staff from the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) received specialized training from the International Trade Centre (ITC) on the development of interactive investment profiles aimed at enhancing investor decision-making.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Giles Chappel, Trade and Investment Policy Advisor at the International Trade Centre (ITC), highlighted that the initiative is part of the European Union (EU)-funded Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II). Building on the foundations laid by MARKUP I, the second phase aims to contribute to the economic development of the East African Community (EAC) by fostering sustainable intra-African and EU-Africa trade, while improving livelihoods, employment, and export competitiveness across the region.
MARKUP II is implemented by ITC in collaboration with the EU Delegation to the EAC, the EAC Secretariat, and the governments of six EAC partner states: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Through strategic partnerships with national, regional, and international institutions, the programme also seeks to strengthen the export capacity of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by supporting value addition, product diversification, and improved access to both regional and global markets.
The workshop was facilitated by ITC Expert Mr. Dev Chamroo, who introduced participants to global best practices for Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), including the World Trade Organization’s Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement. This agreement aims to boost Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows—particularly to developing and least-developed countries—by improving the overall investment climate.
Mr. Chamroo also guided participants through a comprehensive 10-step methodology for developing effective investment profiles. Key topics included the importance of fostering an enabling business environment, strategies for attracting both FDI and Domestic Direct Investment (DDI), investor targeting techniques, and the critical role of digital platforms in profile dissemination and performance analytics to support IPA decision-making.
As part of these efforts, two regional sector investment profiles coffee and packaging will be developed. These sectors were identified as priorities during a meeting of EAC Investment Promotion Authorities held in Nairobi in April 2024.