By Reporter
The 2022 edition of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)- Uganda Business Forum shall kick off on 25th-27th February, the organizers have announced.Organised and coordinated by the DRC-Uganda Business Association (DUBA) on behalf of Uganda and DRC’s Public and Private Sector entities, the forum will run for three days up to March 1 in Kampala, under the theme; “Deepening Bilateral Trade, Partnerships, Knowledge Transfer for Mutual Peace and Prosperity,”
DUBA said in a press statement that this High-level engagement will be graced both Uganda and the DRC’ ambassadors, the Ministers of Agriculture, Energy, ICT, Trade, Works and Transportation from both countries as well as Public and Private sector players and entities.
“While aspects of trade and markets to the DRC is what many aspire bilaterally undertake: there are optimisms on bilateral capacitation and knowledge transfer is another aspect that Uganda is going to harness in the existing relations, beyond Security and infrastructure development,” reads part of the statement,
The joint forum was launched in November 2019 and harnessed on the theme of; ‘Promoting Bilateral Trade, Investment and Connectivity for Mutual Peace and Prosperity’.
It is a Platform to enhance Opportunities and Partnerships for inclusive and Sustainable development between the DRC
“It is on that, that we look to further the existing structures of formal bilateral trade, markets, partnerships, knowledge transfer for mutual peace and prosperity between the government and peoples of DRC and Uganda as we stimulate Bilateral, Regional intra Africa trade and social economic development,” the statement adds,
The two countries enjoy fraternal and excellent bilateral Relations; which is evidenced by established cooperation frameworks including the Joint Permanent Commission, joint security Operations and many other bilateral understandings which have enabled the two sisterly States to achieve common goals and objectives.
To harness this potential, the two sister countries have continued to work out mechanisms for mutual development including the joint infrastructure project, joint patrols, one stop border posts etc.
“The bilateral infrastructure development agreements alongside joint security operations shall secure the volatile areas so that the DRC’s Sustainable Economic Development may be realized,” the statement adds,
Opportunities
The forum, according to DUBA will offer numerous opportunities to the business community of both countries, and these will among others include;
Meeting the decision makers; of both Uganda and the DRC, His Excellencies, Ministers, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), High-Level Officials, CEOs of both Uganda and DRC companies
It will also offer envisioned opportunities for investment and partnerships in Agriculture, Trade, Energy, ICT, Construction, Natural Resources, Uganda’s strategic Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for knowledge transfer in areas of Agriculture, Energy, ICT, Construction, Manufacturing and Industries, Agro processing, bilateral /cross-border industrial parks.
Networking and Linkages; through Government to Business (G2B), Business to Business (B2B), inclusive of visits to local businesses in Kinshasa and follow ups in other areas of interest in the DRC.
Trade facilitation; by learning more about DRC – Uganda business opportunities, and Standards and Customs compliances.
And discover DRC; the people, culture, business and tourism Opportunities and Investments; be part of the Sustainable Business for Uganda Plat-form.
The areas that the DRC is focusing on to spur their economy, the organizers said are; Agriculture: Household, Commercial and Agri technologies, Energy: Transmission and Distribution
Others are; Information, Communication and Technologies, Fisheries; both capture and aquaculture and Infrastructure Development
“Uganda is keen to partner, collaborate and extend ourselves bilaterally directly or indirectly for aspects of mutual growth and benefit,” DUBA said, concluding,
“Capacitating the Enabling Environment through Technologies and Knowledge Transfer so the DRC may rise to its full sustainable capacities and its people, attain a secure Socio-Economic Development, access to markets and Import substitution.”