'Uganda, Pakistan can build mutual trade ties on new lines'

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Regional Co-operation of Uganda Dr Asuman Kiyingi has said that Uganda and Pakistan can build their mutual trade and economic relations on new lines and both are enjoying friendly relations which should be transformed into a strong trade and economic ties.
He stated this while delivering a speech during a meeting at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Friday, in which Ugandan Ambassador Dr Mohammad Ahmed Kissule was also present. "Pakistan is the best country to collaborate with Uganda and Pakistan can take many advantages from this resource rich country," he said. HE informed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni would visit Pakistan this year and that both countries should make joint efforts to promote the economic co-operation.
He said Uganda and Pakistan are agricultural countries and could share experience and expertise in this particular sector for mutual benefit and that Uganda offered best investment opportunities with easy access to big market of 200 million people of the East African Community, and Pakistani investors should initiate joint ventures with their counterparts in Uganda in the sectors of energy, food processing, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas and extraction of iron ore etc. He also said Pakistan could import high quality tea and coffee from Uganda.
In his speech, LCCI President Ijaz A Mumtaz said Pakistan and Uganda have strong relations which need to be developed further and that Uganda is a potential market for Pakistani exports but unfortunately, the presence of Pakistani products in the Uganda is quite nominal. He said the commercial sections of the embassies of both the countries should arrange delegations and trade fairs on a regular basis so that the products of both the countries would be marketed properly and a common platform for businessmen could be provided.
He also said Pakistan could supply rice, textile, pharmaceutical, surgical, sports goods, leather goods, meat and ready to cook food, home appliances including pedestal fans, water pumps, washing machines and refrigerators to Uganda and East African countries.
"There should be ease of visas for the businessmen and need to enhance tourism, single country exhibitions should be held and students, researchers and medical experts be exchanged on a more regular basis to increase people-to-people interaction. There is an immense potential for increasing trade between both the countries which is not being fully exploited and joint ventures in the fields of engineering and building up of infrastructure in Uganda can be a prospective opportunity for Pakistan as well," he added. Dr Kiyingi met the Chairman of the Zonal Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Khawaja Zarar Kaleem at the FPCCI Regional Office to discuss about the prospects of co-operation between the two countries.