Prime
Russia ready to host first Africa summit this October
Ugandan Business Woman Sylvia Zalwango sells to Russian women. Ambassador Johnson Olwa Agara, Uganda’s Envoy to the Russian Federation, expects to sign a trade agreement between Uganda at bilateral level with the Russian Federation during the first Russia-Africa slated for October this year. PHOTO BY JOE NAM
What you need to know:
- The expo allowed Uganda to show case her investment, cultural and tourism potential. It has been a huge success of on every count. Our plan is to make Uganda Moscow expo an annual event in Russia.
Russia will host the First Russia Africa Summit in October. Joe Nam spoke to Ambassador Johnson Olwa Agara, Uganda’s Envoy to the Russian Federation, about the state of Uganda-Russia bilateral relations. Excerpts below.
How would you describe the relations between Uganda and Russia?
Diplomatic relations between Uganda and the Soviet Union, currently the Russian Federation were established in 1964. Since then, the relations between the two countries have been warm and cordial. The relations are mainly in the political, social and economic spheres.
Since 1964 Russia has continued to cooperate with Uganda in the areas of trade, investment and in scientific and technological transfer. Uganda and the Russian Federation have also supported each other on many international issues of mutual interest.
Russia has proposed the first Russia Africa summit to take place in Russia in October this year. What should Uganda expect from this summit?
The summit will avail an opportunity for Uganda to promote its strategic objectives of strengthening bilateral cooperation between Uganda and the Russian Federation in areas of economic, social, political, culture and security. It is a great platform to promote Uganda’s exports of goods and services to the Russian Federation, lobby for inward transfer of investments, facilitate attraction of tourists and for identification of appropriate technology from the Russian Federation that can be transferred to Uganda in the areas of renewable energy, agro-processing and oil and gas among others. So it will be a win-win situation for both Uganda and the Russian Federation.
Of what strategic importance is Uganda and Africa as a whole, to Russia?
Africa as a continent has abundant natural resources and this is of strategic importance for the Russian Federation as a source of natural resources.
Africa has a growing population which stands at approximately 1.2 billion people. This is a huge market with a lot of potential to interest the Russian Federation.
Africa has a huge representation in International organisations such as the United Nations. This is of strategic importance for the Russian Federation.
How important is Russia to Uganda and Africa as whole?
The Russian Federation and Africa have enjoyed long-standing traditions of friendship and mutual support. The Soviet Union supported Africa during the liberation struggles.
The friendship between the Russian Federation and Africa is manifested in the mutual support at international forums.
The Russian Federation also has population of approximately 150 million people which is a potential market for Africa and Ugandan agricultural products and minerals.
A number of Russian companies have shown interest to invest in Uganda in various sectors.
What is the current terms of trade between Uganda and Russia in relation to imports and exports?
The terms of trade between Uganda and the Russian Federation is unfavourable with Uganda importing more from the Russian Federation than she exports. However, more Ugandan products are now being exported to the Russian Federation including coffee, tea, cocoa and beans among others.
What investments should Uganda expect from Russia in the short and medium term?
The Russian Federation is highly industrialised and developed in all sectors. Therefore, the Russians can invest in wide range of sectors in Uganda including renewable energy, oil and gas, agriculture, construction, banking, ICT, tourism among others.
What products or services can Uganda export to Russia profitably?
Uganda can export most of its products to the Russian Federation including agricultural products.
However, a lot more needs to be done in promoting Ugandan products in the Russian Federation and that is the reason why the Embassy of Uganda hosted the first ever Uganda Expo 2019 in Moscow recently. The expo allowed Uganda to show case her investment, cultural and tourism potential. It has been a huge success of on every count. Our plan is to make Uganda Moscow expo an annual event in Russia.
