By Spy Uganda
In abid to attract more investment opportunities in Ankole Sub region, Operation Wealth Creation in partnership with Uganda Development Bank (UDB) will hold Greater Ankole third investment symposium at Kakyeka Stadium ground.
The two days event slated for 21st to 23rd February will run under the theme: ‘The Contribution Of Financial Innovation To The Resilience Of The Economy For Sustained Growth.’
UDB Managing Director Patricia Ojangole says its an opportunity for business enthusiasts to identify business opportunities in the region, host business to business (B2B) engagements and convene with leading local and national leaders on the question of financing businesses for recovery and growth.
“As the country focuses its energies on full recovery from the COVID19 pandemic, UDB joins the rest of the government and the people of Uganda in redoubling its efforts to reinforce the economy at local levels, while supporting the President’s agenda and government policy in the form of financing for continued import substitution, value-added production for export and technology transfer to aid home-grown innovation and entrepreneurship,” Patricia Ojangole said.
“The Ankole Investment Symposium is a practical exercise where UDB, together with Operation Wealth Creation, local government and partners are bringing the benefits of affordable finance to one of the fastest growing regions in the country. In doing so, we will together demonstrate the impact of government led but locally owned interventions to boost the economy, support exports, especially to the region, increase household incomes and draw more people into the money economy” she explained.
She further said that the symposium is intended to bring together a cohort of coordinated thinking that can learn about the business opportunities of the times.
Mbarara North MP, Dr Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari, says they have invited local government leaders, entrepreneurs, academic, business and finance leaders to share success experiences and explore new approaches and pragmatic solutions.
Rukaari is optimistic that the two day event will come out with viable actions to put Ankole on a sustainable path to a vibrant economy that is a crucial part of the regional and national economy.
“The COVID pandemic disrupted global and local demand as well as supply chains. However, as a country our resolve is to exploit and use our local capabilities has also grown. Therefore, the Government is prioritising import replacement, productivity growth and export promotion as key programmes to achieve desired growth levels,” he said.
According to Uganda Investment Authority chairman Morris Rwakakamba, Uganda Investment Symposium was launched in 2019 with the inaugural symposium held in West Nile region and a subsequent one held in Rwenzori sub region.
He explained that the purpose of the platform is to bring together investors from different regions to showcase, discuss and explore the investment environment in Uganda, emerging markets, opportunities, and challenges that investors face.
