Minister Bahati Vows to Resolve Indian Business Community Concerns at Forum

The High Commission of India in Kampala, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Uganda Chapter, and the Indian Business Forum Uganda, hosted a key India-Uganda Business Meet on Friday. The event served as a platform for enhancing dialogue and collaboration between Indian businesses operating in Uganda and key Ugandan authorities.

Chief Guest at the event was the Honorable David Bahati, Uganda’s Minister of State for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives (Industry), who graced the occasion with his presence and shared insights on fostering stronger bilateral ties in trade and commerce between India and Uganda.

The interactive session, attended by India’s High Commissioner to Uganda, H.E Upender Singh Rawat, witnessed active participation from the Indian business community, who seized the opportunity to raise pertinent issues faced by their enterprises.

India’s High Commissioner to Uganda H.E Upender Singh Rawat addressing the gathering

Addressing the concerns directly, Hon. Minister Bahati assured the attendees of his personal commitment to addressing their grievances and facilitating a conducive environment for business growth and development.

Among the notable attendees were Mr. David Nahamya, Secretary of the National Drug Authority; Mr. Peter Muhumura from the Uganda Investment Authority; and Mr. Francis Kisirinya, Director of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda. Their presence underscored the significance of collaboration between government bodies and the private sector in fostering a thriving business ecosystem.

Concentrated mainly in the cities of Kampala and Jinja, Indians are engaged in manufacturing, banking, real estate, and tourism, running companies that provide employment to over a million people. In addition, they contribute about 65 percent to Uganda’s tax revenues.

In his remarks, Hon. Bahati lauded the role of Indian businesses in Uganda’s economic landscape and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing necessary support and assistance to foster their growth and expansion endeavors.

The India-Uganda Business Meet concluded on a positive note, with both Indian business representatives and Ugandan authorities expressing their eagerness to continue engaging in meaningful dialogue and collaboration to further strengthen bilateral economic ties and create mutually beneficial opportunities for growth and development.