JAKARTA – July 10, 2025 – The Uganda-Indonesia Business Forum, held today at the Park Hyatt Jakarta, marked a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations and fostering strategic investment between the two nations. The forum positioned Uganda as a crucial gateway for Southeast Asian engagement in vital sectors, including tourism, minerals, trade, oil and gas, and digital innovation. The event brought together government officials, business leaders and investors from both countries to cultivate sustainable, long-term collaboration.
Uganda’s dedication to regional integration and economic advancement is evident in its active participation in major trade blocs like the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
With a population exceeding 48 million and access to regional markets of over 300 million people, Uganda presents both scale and strategic positioning for investors seeking long-term growth in East Africa. Indonesian investors are well-positioned to leverage this advantage across key sectors, including:
- ICT and digital services, encompassing BPO centers, coding academies and mobile application development.
- Agribusiness and rice cultivation, aimed at enhancing Uganda’s food security and reducing import dependency.
- Textile and garment manufacturing, utilizing cost-effective labor for export-oriented production.
- Tourism and hospitality infrastructure, such as eco-lodges, resorts and integrated service training.
- Mining operations, including exploration and processing of minerals, and investment in oil and gas infrastructure, which are increasingly vital to Uganda’s long-term economic strategy.
- Trade and distribution, including the establishment of logistics hubs, export-import partnerships and halal-certified supply chains.
Trade relations between Uganda and Indonesia have demonstrated strong complementarity. In 2024, Uganda exported $47.1 million worth of goods to Indonesia, primarily cocoa and leather. Meanwhile, Indonesia exported $97.7 million in diversified products to Uganda, including steel, adhesives, machinery and glass.
Tourism also plays a pivotal role in this expanding relationship. During the forum, Uganda signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ASITA (Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies) to support the development of tourism infrastructure in Uganda. This agreement follows a government-sponsored familiarization visit in November 2024, where ASITA operators were invited to Uganda to experience its tourism offerings firsthand and assess investment opportunities in the hospitality and infrastructure sectors.
Uganda, a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), is actively working to strengthen its participation in global halal markets. As part of this initiative, Uganda recognizes the growing importance of halal logistics, a specialized supply chain framework that ensures the handling, storage and transportation of halal-certified goods adhere to Islamic principles. Indonesia, as one of the world’s largest halal economies and a key OIC member, is well-positioned to support Uganda through training programs, technical assistance and knowledge exchange.
Uganda also offers an attractive investment environment, including a 10-year tax holiday, no restrictions on in-country reinvestment and full profit repatriation rights for foreign investors. The government has also introduced a three-year income tax holiday for new, Ugandan-owned startup businesses to encourage local entrepreneurship. Investors further benefit from zero import duty on plants and machinery and the possibility of 100% foreign company ownership.
“This business forum or expo is a very special and unique one. One that is aimed to increase and boost our international trade, also our international relations,” said Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, Vice Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia.
Building on this momentum, trade between the two countries has gained significant traction in recent years. “The total trade between Indonesia and Uganda has generally shown an upward trend from in 2020 to 2024. There’s an increase of 47.25%, from US $8.9 million to US $52.8 million US dollars in January up to April of 2025,” she added.
Dr. Betty Oyella Bigombe, The High Commissioner of Uganda in Malaysia, echoed this spirit of collaboration, emphasizing Uganda’s readiness to engage with international partners from Indonesia.
“This Business Forum marks a new era of bilateral cooperation defined by strategic alignment, mutual economic growth, and partnerships that go beyond commerce to embrace innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development,” said Ambassador Bigombe. “Uganda is committed to increasing its exports to Indonesia, particularly value-added agricultural products, minerals, halal foods, and green energy components. We encourage Indonesian businesses to consider Uganda as a strategic production and export hub to the rest of Africa”.
The forum featured presentations on Uganda’s leading sectors, curated networking sessions and dialogue between public and private sectors to remove trade barriers and accelerate joint ventures. With its abundant natural resources, vibrant youth population and expanding digital infrastructure, Uganda provides fertile ground for sustainable investment and innovation.
Uganda, a landlocked East African country often called the Pearl of Africa, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, rich biodiversity and vibrant cultural heritage. With a population exceeding 48 million, Uganda is known for its political stability, welcoming people and commitment to sustainable development. Strategically located within the Great Lakes region, Uganda offers access to regional markets and is a member of the East African Community (EAC). Its economy is driven by agriculture, services, minerals, oil and resources, with a growing focus on technology and tourism as pillars for future investment and international collaboration.
