Uganda invites Pakistani investors with 10-year tax holiday

Envoy proposes business delegation, farm visits to create direct trade links

ISLAMABAD:

Uganda has invited Pakistani investors to tap its expanding agricultural, mineral, energy and tourism sectors, offering tax incentives for greenfield investments, while proposing a dedicated Pakistan-Uganda business forum and farm-visit delegation to create direct commercial linkages between the two countries.

Ambassador Matata Twaha, Charge d'Affaires of Uganda, while addressing an interactive business meeting at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Saturday, said Uganda was ready to facilitate Pakistani entrepreneurs in exploring investment opportunities and establishing direct trade channels.

The Ugandan envoy stressed that Pakistan-Uganda relations, despite their longstanding diplomatic foundation, needed to be translated into greater trade and investment. He said Uganda's Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Strategy 2025 had given its diplomatic missions a clear mandate to promote trade, investment, business delegations and economic cooperation with friendly countries.

Twaha proposed that a delegation of Pakistani businessmen visit Uganda in October for a week-long business forum and farm visits covering tea, coffee, cocoa, cotton and other agricultural commodities, besides exploring opportunities in minerals and other sectors.

He said the Ugandan side would facilitate the delegation during its stay, enabling Pakistani businessmen to visit farms and production areas, interact directly with producers and assess the quality and commercial potential of Ugandan products.

He proposed that ICCI and the Uganda Chamber of Commerce establish a dedicated chamber-to-chamber mechanism to sustain business engagement, exchange draft MoUs and subsequently formalise institutional cooperation.

He further suggested holding the first Pakistan-Uganda trade exhibition in either Islamabad or Kampala to showcase products and directly connect exporters, importers and investors.

ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood said Pakistan's relationship with Africa could no longer remain limited to diplomatic goodwill and must evolve into a dynamic partnership of trade, investment, technology and shared prosperity.

He identified rice, pharmaceuticals, textiles, surgical and medical equipment, sports goods and engineering products as promising Pakistani exports, while Uganda could supply coffee, tea, cotton and agricultural commodities.

"Diplomacy can open the doors, but business walks through it," he said.

Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to Uganda, Bilal Mohsin, said the initiative had emerged from discussions held over the past few months aimed at bringing Pakistani and Ugandan business communities closer.

He said Uganda was offering a 10-year tax holiday, while greenfield investors could benefit from tax incentives extendable up to 25 years. Former ICCI President and Chairman ICCI Standing Committee on Diplomatic Affairs Zafar Bakhtawari said ICCI had consistently championed stronger Pakistan-Africa relations and annually organised Africa Day to bring African heads of mission and Pakistani policymakers together.

He suggested exploring direct air connectivity between Pakistan and Kampala and urged Uganda to consider establishing a diplomatic mission in Islamabad.