Amb. Paul Amoru Uganda’s High Commission to South Africa has pledged to place his main focus on Economic and Commercial diplomacy with an aim of further boosting trade and investment between Uganda and South Africa.
Africa is currently the main beneficiary of the relations for example OEC Data indicates that in 2020 S. Africa exported goods worth $187 million to Uganda while Uganda exported goods worth $20.7 million.
Amb Amoru while holding a meeting with Hon. Damini Mashego the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa said he will use his diplomacy to bridge the gap.
“I thank you for the commitment to opening your markets to Ugandan products and services,” he said.
He appreciated the acceptance of the resumption of Uganda Airlines commercial direct flights to Johannesburg
which in turn will boost trade and deepen the people-to-people relations and cooperation.
The Ambassador briefed the meeting on new developments in the East African region, these he said include among others DR Congo joining the East African Community after signing the Treaty of Accession and the associated benefits, the graduation of the first batch of unified armed forces of South Sudan and the successful national elections in Kenya. In return, the Minister briefed the meeting on updates in the SADC region. These included the insecurity in Mozambique, the political and cultural developments in Eswatini, and the upcoming national elections in Lesotho.
He used the opportunity to seek South Africa’s support for Uganda’s candidature for re-election to the International Telecommunications Union Council for the period 2022-2026 at an election scheduled during the Plenipotentiary conference from 26th September to 14th October 2022 in Bucharest, Romania.
In her speech, Hon Mashego said that issues of trade and investment are critical and there is a need to address all challenges that may hamper the expansion of the cooperation and that the way forward is to implement all signed bilateral agreements, review dormant ones as well as explore new areas of cooperation.
She observed that South Africa is equally encouraged by Uganda’s active engagement to strengthen bilateral cooperation with other countries.
“Together Uganda and South Africa can exploit new opportunities presented by the post-COVID 19 pandemics globally,” she said
She further advised that strong bilateral relations between African countries and regional economies “is essential to the realization of the ideals of the continent’s development Agenda 2063 – the Africa we want,”
“Uganda is known for her unwavering commitment to the realization of the ideals of Pan-Africanism, promotion of sovereignty and independence of all African nations as well championing regional integration,”
