Kadaga’s full speech on the Corporate Breakfast Launch of the East African Business Expo

Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, First Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for East African Community Affairs.

• Hon Matia Kasaija, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
• Mr. Benson Turamye– Executive Director, Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets PPDA
• Mr. Moses Aibah Agaba CEO Fathil International Projects Ltd (FIPRO)
• Heads of Corporate and Public Institutions
• Members of the Media
• All invited Guests

• Ladies and Gentlemen

Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to be here at the corporate launch of the 14^th East African Procurement Forum and Business Expo to be held here in Uganda next month. To all our business and media friends, a very warm welcome.

As the Minister in charge of EAC Affairs, I am excited to be a part of this event, which supports our ministry’s mandate to promote regional integration and cooperation. By coming together all the EAC states, this forum and business expo is demonstrating the commitment to working together to build a stronger, more prosperous East Africa.

This event is particularly important because it will bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from across the region to share ideas, build relationships, and explore new opportunities for growth and development.

I am pleased to share with you some figures that highlight the size and importance of regional trade within the East African community. The intra-EAC trade, accounting for imports and exports in the 7 EAC Partner States continues to grow due to political goodwill among the member states and stands at just over $10.17 billion by September 2022, representing a 20% share of Intra-trade to global trade. It is important to note that Uganda exports over $4 Billion to members of EA which accounts for slight of 50% making the EAC partner states our largest trading partners.

The government of Uganda recognizes the importance of regional integration and trade and is committed to promoting policies and initiatives that will help to further strengthen economic ties between our countries.

Procurement plays a critical role in facilitating this trade, by providing the infrastructure and regulatory frameworks necessary for companies to do business across borders. By bringing together procurement regulatory bodies from across the region, this forum provides a valuable platform for sharing best practices and promoting regional cooperation.

My ministry is committed to supporting initiatives like this that promote regional integration and economic development.  I encourage all of you to take advantage of this opportunity to showcase your businesses, connect with potential partners, and contribute to the growth of our region.

I would also like to thank the organizers of this event for their hard work in bringing together participants from across the region, and for their commitment to promoting regional trade and investment.

In conclusion, I wish all of you a successful and productive business expo, and I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes that will emerge from this important event. Together, we can build a brighter future for our region and for all the people who call East Africa home.

Thank you!

For God and My Country.