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A 30-member delegation from Indian agricultural firms and research institutes visited Uganda, led by Dammu Ravi, to explore investment opportunities in the agro-industry sector. The visit follows up on discussions regarding financing for agricultural projects, including solar irrigation systems and energy transmission.

A 30-member delegation comprising representatives from Indian firms in the Agricultural Sector, India’s Premier Institutes in Agricultural Research, and Allied Industries such as the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), and the Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), among others, arrived in Uganda on Monday, April 8th.

This delegation is under the leadership of Dammu Ravi, Economic Secretary (Permanent Secretary in charge of Economic Relations) at the Ministry of External Affairs of India. They were warmly received by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Uganda’s High Commissioner to India, Dr. Joyce Kikafunda.

The purpose of this visit is a two-day exploration of Uganda’s investment opportunities in the Agro-industry sector, leveraging the favorable investment climate. Notably, this visit follows a prior engagement by Suja K. Menon, the Joint Secretary/Director General for the Ministry of External Affairs of India, held from February 28th to 29th, 2024. It serves as a follow-up to discussions centered around financing the Agricultural Sector, particularly focusing on solar irrigation systems and energy/power transmission.

Uganda’s agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in its economy, contributing approximately 24 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and representing over half of the country’s export earnings (54%; World Bank, 2019). Nearly 70 percent of the working population is involved in agriculture, with this sector serving as the primary source of employment for three-quarters of individuals aged between 15 and 24 years. Additionally, approximately 78% of Uganda’s population resides in rural areas, where agriculture is the predominant economic activity (UBoS, 2016). Concurrently, agro-processing serves as the backbone of Uganda’s manufacturing sector, constituting roughly 60 percent of its total output.