The Uganda-South Africa, Trade, Tourism and Investment Summit 2023 will be held from 27 February to 1 March, 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa.
The event will be the first Trade, Tourism and Investment Summit between Uganda and South Africa. The Summit will be presided over by the Heads of State of Uganda and South Africa, or their representatives. The Summit is expected to attract 300 delegates, both private and public. These include business captains, ministers, heads of agencies, policymakers, the media, etc.
The Summit is organized by the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria in partnership with the following Ugandan partners:
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uganda (MOFA)
- Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)
- The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives of Uganda
- The Ministry of Health (MOH)
- The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA)
- The Private Sector Foundation of Uganda (PSFU)
- Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA)
- The Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID)
- Uganda Tourism Board (UTB)
- The Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Uganda Airlines
South African stakeholders:
- The Department of Trade and Industry of South Africa
- The Department of Public Enterprises of South Africa
- The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
- The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of South Africa.
The Summit’s overarching objective is to provide a platform for the private sector, government and business regulatory agencies to freely exchange views, ideas, and information on how to facilitate investment and doing business (including identifying existing and emerging business/investment opportunities for Uganda).
The Summit will focus on the following sectors: Tourism, Trade and Investment, Finance, Insurance, Professional Service, Manufacturing, Mining, Energy Resources, Agro-processing, ICT, Power Generation, education, and Infrastructure development/construction among others.
The Summit will feature plenary and parallel sessions focusing on priority and transformative sectors to promote sustainable, inclusive, balanced, and sustained growth and development of Uganda.
The Summit Structure will include but will not be limited to:
- Plenary sessions on trade and investment in the key sectors.
- Parallel panel presentations and discussions.
- Business exhibition (for both products and services).
- Business-to-Business (B2B) sessions.
The following concrete outcomes of the Summit are expected:
- Established joint framework of hosting an annual Trade, Tourism and Investment Summit between Uganda and South Africa.
- Strengthened bilateral cooperation in trade and investment between Uganda and South Africa.
- Attraction of potential investors from South Africa to Uganda, as well as from other countries.
Investment and Trade between Uganda and South Africa
South Africa is one of the fastest-growing sources of Foreign Direct Investment for Uganda.
Uganda’s exports to South Africa include cotton, gold, fish fillets, tobacco, coffee, and fresh flowers. South Africa’s exports to Uganda include machinery, vehicles, plastics, chemicals, electronics, parts and accessories, petroleum, live animals, books and newsprint, textiles, footwear, aircraft, and household goods.
South African investments in Uganda are in sectors like telecommunications, breweries, finance, poultry, energy, and real estate, amongst others.
South Africa has the potential of strengthening investment and trade links with Uganda in several areas including manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, touring, mining, information technology, health services, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, etc.
Based on the foregoing, there is a need for Uganda to continuously leverage the existing cordial relations between the two countries and showcase its opportunities to potential investors in South Africa and internationally for improvement of the trade balance and national development through a business summit.
Media Liaison:
Uganda Investment Authority – Mr. David Rupiny, +256 785 291625/+256 705 177219 – drupiny@ugandainvest.go.ug