Pakistan-Uganda Trade Must Move Beyond Diplomatic Ties: ICCI President
UrduPoint | Pakistan Today
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Aug, 2026) Uganda has extended an invitation to Pakistani investors to tap into its growing sectors such as agriculture, minerals, energy, and tourism, offering tax incentives for greenfield investments. The country proposes establishing a dedicated business forum and organizing farm-visit delegations to foster direct commercial linkages between Pakistan and Uganda.
Matata Twaha, Charge d’Affaires of Uganda, made these remarks while addressing an interactive business meeting at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Saturday. He emphasized the need to translate the strong diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Uganda into increased trade and investment.
The Ugandan envoy highlighted Uganda's Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Strategy 2025, which empowers its diplomatic missions to promote trade, investment, business delegations, and economic cooperation with friendly nations.
Proposed initiatives:
- A delegation of Pakistani businessmen is invited to visit Uganda in October for a week-long business forum and farm visits focusing on tea, coffee, cocoa, cotton, and other agricultural commodities, as well as exploring opportunities in minerals and other sectors.
- Facilitation by the Ugandan side during the delegation's stay to enable direct interactions between Pakistani businessmen and local producers.
- Establishment of a dedicated chamber-to-chamber mechanism between ICCI and the Uganda Chamber of Commerce to foster ongoing business engagement and collaboration.
- Organizing a trade exhibition in either Islamabad or Kampala to showcase products and directly connect exporters, importers, and investors.
ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood called for evolving Pakistan's relationship with Africa into a dynamic partnership beyond diplomatic goodwill, focusing on trade, investment, technology, and shared prosperity. He identified rice, pharmaceuticals, textiles, surgical equipment, sports goods, and engineering products as promising Pakistani exports, while Uganda can offer coffee, tea, cotton, and agricultural commodities.
Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to Uganda, Bilal Mohsin, noted that this initiative stems from discussions aimed at bringing Pakistani and Ugandan business communities closer. Uganda offers a 10-year tax holiday for investors, with greenfield investors eligible for tax incentives extending up to 25 years.