M7, Kagame To Officiate At 3rd Uganda-Rwanda Business Forum

Uganda and Rwanda presidents Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (R) and Paul Kagame

Ugandan President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame will officiate at the 3rd Uganda-Rwanda Business Forum on the 7th October 2014 at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

The forum, hosted in partnership with Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda High Commission and Rwanda Development Board, is running under the Theme: “Accelerating Regional Trade and Investment”.

It is expected to connect participants from the business communities, private and public sectors of both countries. It will also attract senior government officials and policy makers, economic analysts and investment consultants.

Rwanda president H.E President Paul Kagame will give the keynote address. Other speakers will include Richard Kabonero Uganda High Commissioner to Kigali, Patrick Mweheire Director Stanbic Bank, Sanjeev Anand Managing Director I&M Bank, Jaswinder Bedi Chief Executive Officer-Fine Spinners (U) Ltd, Jack Kayonga Chief Executive Officer-Crystal Ventures, Emmanuel Katongole Founder and Chief Executive Officer Quality Chemicals Ltd, Claire Akamanzi Chief Operations Officer Rwanda Development Board and Denis Karera Managing Director-Kigali Heights.

Last year’s forum, which was held in Kigali Rwanda, exposed a need for information on opportunities available, harmonization of taxation and regulatory frameworks and trade linkages.

Uganda-Rwanda trade partnership

Uganda has emerged as Rwanda’s leading trade partner with 2013 trade statistics indicating that Uganda’s exports to Rwanda were worth USD 244,769,000, against imports from Rwanda worth USD 9,939.

Uganda is viewed as an increasingly favorable destination for Rwanda’s exports as Rwanda seeks to reduce its widening trade balance.

Rwandan firms are now increasingly venturing into Uganda and forming joint ventures with Ugandan companies. Uganda is also a favorable destination for Rwandan students, with Ugandan education being a revenue stream for Uganda.

The forum, in its third year running is organized, on a rotational basis by the two countries. The two previous forums ran under the theme “Linking Opportunities and Investors”.