The inaugural Uganda-France Investment, Tourism, and Trade Conference has kicked off in Paris, aiming to enhance economic, trade, and tourism partnerships between the two nations.
The four-day event, which began on 17 February 2025, has brought together high-profile attendees from Uganda, including Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, and Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Ramathan Ggoobi.
In her opening remarks, Uganda’s Ambassador to France, Amb. Doreen Ruth Amule, emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable growth and infrastructure development in Uganda.
“We would like to encourage Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) engaging the French and Ugandan stakeholders in discussions that can drive sustainable growth and infrastructure development in Uganda,” said Amb. Amule.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Secretary Mr. Bagiire Vincent Waiswa highlighted Uganda’s strategic position and favorable business environment.
“Uganda is strategically positioned, and this gives an opportunity for investment in the key focus areas of agro-industrialisation, tourism infrastructure development, mineral development and Science, Technology, and Innovation development (ATMs), where great concessions are granted by the Government,” said Mr. Bagiire.
He invited attendees to tap into Uganda’s favorable business environment, including the country’s year-round conducive climate and fertile soils, abundance of mineral resources, and access to the 300 million population of the East African Community (EAC) and the 600 million population of the Common Market for Eastern Africa (COMESA).
France has already demonstrated goodwill in the intensive level of investment it is putting into the Ugandan economy, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
“There is a track record of French investment in Uganda, with French companies as the leading private investors. Over 40 French companies are operating in Uganda,” said Mr. Bagiire.
Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi, said the event was timely, given the Government’s Ten-fold Growth Strategy.
“The aim is to expand the economy from $50 billion in FY 2022/23 to $500 billion by 2040. Investment Conferences like the one in Paris would provide an opportunity to highlight Uganda’s business reforms,” said Mr. Ggoobi.
UIA Executive Director Robert Mukiiza, flanked by URA Commissioner for Customs, Abel Kagumire, expounded on the Government investment and tax incentives available to new investors.
CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board, Lilly Ajarova, said the tourism sector, backed by Uganda’s unique wildlife, scenic landscapes, and diverse cultural heritage, offers vast potential for growth.
She invited French, Spanish, and Portuguese film industry players to take advantage of the picturesque backdrops and comparatively low cost of labor, to shoot films on location in Uganda.
On the sidelines of the event, the two Permanent Secretaries also met with Executives of TOTAL Energies and discussed the progress of the Tilenga segment of the EACOP project, which is operated by TotalEnergies (56.6%), in partnership with CNOOC and UNOC.
Uganda-Tanzania Country Delegate, Mr. Xavier Ecomard, said that of the $10 billion USD anticipated investment by TOTAL, at least 18% will directly benefit Ugandan businesses.
TOTAL has created 18,000 direct jobs and 30,000 indirect jobs on the EACOP project.
