ISTANBUL, Türkiye – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, has concluded a five-day strategic retreat in Istanbul aimed at strengthening Uganda’s trade, investment and economic diplomacy efforts across the Gulf and Middle East region.

Held under the theme “Unlocking Uganda’s Trade and Investment Potential from the Interventions of Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD),” the retreat brought together Uganda’s diplomatic missions in Riyadh, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ankara to assess performance, review ongoing ECD initiatives and align priorities for the 2026/27 financial year.

Opening the retreat, Henry Mayega, Head of the International Economic Cooperation Department, commended the Ministry of Finance for increasing support to Uganda’s diplomatic missions over the last two financial years. He urged missions to focus on realistic and measurable targets capable of delivering tangible economic benefits to the country.

The retreat also highlighted the work of the newly established Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Hub. Its head, Ambassador Richard Kabonero, outlined efforts to address coordination challenges, improve stakeholder engagement and strengthen trade intelligence gathering. He emphasized the need for effective reporting and alignment with Uganda’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy, the Fourth National Development Plan and Vision 2040 to maximize outcomes in trade, tourism and investment.

Participants received a strategic briefing on opportunities and emerging trends in the Middle East from Joseph Enyimu, Commissioner for Economic Policy Development and Research at the Ministry of Finance. The presentation provided guidance on positioning Uganda’s exports, attracting investment and deepening commercial partnerships within the region.

Hosting the retreat, Uganda’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Nusura Tiperu, praised the growing collaboration between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance in driving Uganda’s economic transformation agenda. She noted that Istanbul’s unique position as a bridge between Asia, Europe and the Middle East makes it an ideal venue for evaluating progress and fostering stronger cooperation among Uganda’s missions.

The Istanbul meeting marks the final phase of a series of regional Economic and Commercial Diplomacy reviews conducted this year for Uganda’s missions in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas, underscoring the government's commitment to leveraging diplomacy as a tool for trade promotion, investment attraction and sustainable economic growth.