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[QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 66451, member: 636"]
Uganda needs investment from the United Arab Emirates in water transport, mineral processing and affordable credit to reach its goal of a 500 billion dollar economy, Investment Minister Evelyn Anite said on Tuesday at a business forum in Kampala. The UAE has invested 3.5 billion dollars in the country through hospitality, oil, and manufacturing projects, as bilateral trade reached 2.85 billion dollars by September 2025.

Anite asked UAE firms to upgrade ports and buy vessels for Lakes Victoria, Kyoga and Albert to reduce freight costs and position Uganda as a regional trade gateway. She said access to low-cost financing remains the biggest barrier for local businesses that face interest rates near 12 percent, while competitors in other developing nations borrow more cheaply.

The minister wants UAE partners to build refineries and factories that turn Ugandan gold, copper and lithium into finished goods rather than exporting raw materials. She said the government offers tax breaks, reliable electricity and industrial parks to manufacturers that create local jobs and keep profits in the country.

Uganda maintains a liberalized economy where investors can move capital freely after meeting tax obligations, Anite said. The country aims to expand its economy tenfold by 2040 through infrastructure improvements and investor-friendly policies that have helped sustain seven percent annual growth.
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