- The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with AGRA aimed at promoting investments in agriculture and its value chains.
- UIA Director General Mr. Robert Mukiza signed on behalf of the Authority, witnessed by Dr. John Jagwe, the AGRA Country Manager in Uganda.
- In the LOI, UIA will act as the home of the Agribusiness Deal Room in Uganda and help in convening the annual Agribusiness Deal Room.
- UIA will work with AGRA to create linkages between SMEs and funding opportunities including but not limited to the Agri-Business Capital (ABC) fund.
- UIA will collaborate with AGRA in scouting for potential investees, help them prepare investment pitches, develop sector deep dives and presentations for the Agribusiness Deal Room.
- UIA will lead in advocating for an enabling environment for investment in agriculture.
- UIA will collaborate with AGRA to engage the Ugandan Government to design flagship programmes that provide opportunities for investors in agriculture and agribusiness – from production, processing through to market.
- AGRA will promote relevant UIA research reports on the Agribusiness Deal Room platform.
- UIA will collaborate with AGRA to provide information on funding and other support opportunities for SMEs in the agricultural sector in Uganda.
Commenting on the LOI, UIA Director General Mr. Mukiza said in addition to adding value to agro products the idea is to have bankable projects that translate into real deals in the agricultural value chain, adding that it is part of the agenda of industrializing the country.
On his part, Dr Jagwe said the LOI is intentional; it is to help in attracting the right investments in agriculture, add value to agro products and create quality jobs for young people.
