EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
An ambassador is a salesman of the country The government of Uganda has decided to open a warehouse facility in Kampala for Pakistani businessmen An Exclusive Interview of
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Kisuule
Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to Pakistan, Turkey and Iran I&M: Thank you, Your Excellency Editorial Team of for sparing time for an interview I&M Prof. S.B. Hassan with the editorial team of Syed Azfar Hussain ‘Investment & Marketing’. We welcome you to Karachi. H.E Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Kisuule: I greatly appreciate and acknowledge the reception I received from the people of Karachi. I believe an ambassador is a salesman of the country. He can best sell his country to the world. The mission and charter that I follow has the following three principles to promote and build bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Uganda. 1. This can be done by formalizing and building a legal framework. This legal framework will give guideline and assistance to companies and businesses in difference sectors. There can be great assistance in the field of agriculture and other major sectors. By having a legal framework in place there can be great cooperation between the two countries in technology transfer in major sectors like pharmaceuticals. 2. Promotion of bilateral trade and investment between the two countries. 3. To promote tourism and leisure activities between the two countries.
I&M: What were the major organizations and institutions that you visited during your visit?
MAH: I had a great experience visiting and meeting people from different sectors of Pakistan. I visited many important places in Pakistan. I met the experts and academia at the University 44
of Agriculture in Faisalabad, I also visited one of the largest tractor assembling and production plants of Pakistan, Millat Tractors, and was extremely impressed by its manufacturing capacity . I visited small industries in Faisalabad as well. I was also invited by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Centre in Islamabad. During my visit to Karachi, I met the businessmen of the S.I.T.E association. I also had a meeting with the delegation of the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Association (PPMA).I visited a teaching hospital in Karachi and was extremely pleased and satisfied with the performance of the institute
I&M: What are the fields where you think Pakistan
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW can Help Uganda?
MAH:Uganda is mainly an agricultural country. Pakistan can assist the Ugandan government in farming and agricultural sector. Ugandan farmers and agriculturists can learn from PakistanÂ’s irrigation system. The pharmaceutical sector in Pakistan can help and assist the overall healthcare sector in Uganda.
I&M: What are the Ugandan products that can be imported to Pakistan?
MAH: Uganda is a coffee and tea grower nation .Coffee and Tea can be imported to Pakistan.
I&M: What is the main objective of your visit to Pakistan?
MAH: I came to Pakistan with a with a working plan. The following are main points of the plan: 1. There should be a Trading Point in place .Recently the government has decided to open a warehouse facility in Kampala for Pakistani businessmen. This trading point will serve as a hub of business activities and will help to increase trade. 2. The Pharmaceutical sector of Pakistan should establish a health centre in Uganda .This health centre will introduce Pakistani medicines and pharmaceutical products into the Ugandan Market. 3. Strengthening the legal framework to formalize the diplomatic and business relations between the two countries. Both the countries will benefit from the success of the working plan. There are investment opportunities in Agribusiness,Fisheries,Forestry,Manufacturing,Miining,Infrastruct ure,Financial Services, Tourism, Printing and Publishing, Education, IT and Electronics Sector,
I&M: Kindly elucidate the role of Ugandan Investment Authority(UIA) in promotion of trade and business?
MAH: UIA is the agency set up by an Act of Parliament in 1991 to promote and facilitate investment in Uganda. the agency serves to: 1. Provide first hand information on investment opportunities in Uganda. 2. Issue Investment Licenses. 3. Assist in securing other licenses and secondary approvals for investors. 4. Help investors to implement their project ideas through assistance in locating relevant project support services. 5. Provide assistance in the acquisition of industrial land. 6. Help to obtain work permits and special passes for investors and their expatriate staff. 7. Arrange contacts for potential investors and organize itineraries for visiting foreign missions in the country. 46
8. Assist investors in seeking joint venture partners and funding. 9. Review and make policy recommendations to the Government about investment.
I&M: Are you inviting Pakistani Businessmen to Uganda?
MAH: I have suggested that there should be a delegation from Pakistan to Uganda in the middle of 2011. The Honorary Consul General of Uganda in Karachi Dr. Haroon Siddiqui should lead the delegation. The delegation should act like a fact finding mission and should familiarize itself with the business environment of Uganda. The delegation should comprise of businessmen, representative of the Board of Investment and a representative of the media. After the visit of the Pakistani delegation to Kampala, an investment conference can be planned in the capital city of Kampala between September to November 2011.
I&M: What is your Message to the people of Pakistan?
MAH: My message to the people of Pakistan and businessmen is to come to Uganda for trade and investment. Foreign investors require a minimum of US $ 100,000 in planned investment in order to secure an investment license from the Ugandan Investment Authority. Uganda has a rich culture and beautiful landscapes, I will invite people of Pakistan to visit the country for leisure and tourism.n
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