Japanese businessmen under their High level business federation, the Keidanren, have expressed their interest to partner with Uganda companies and government and invest in agro-processing, construction, solar panel production, transportation and in medical equipment.
The businessmen led by Katsuo Nagasaka, the Chairman, Committee on Sub-Saharan Africa of the Keidanren said they want to strengthen their collaboration with Ugandan businessmen and scientists to boost trade and development between Uganda and Japan.
The businessmen, including Hideo Matsui, Vice President, Division Director Energy Project Business Development Division, Chiyoda corporation, Ms. Atsuko Hirooka, Executive Officer, Sumitomo corporation, Atoshi Mukuta, Senior Managing Director of Keidanren among others, where today meeting President Yoweri Museveni during a courtesy call they made to him at the InterContinental Yokohama Grand Hotel at the sidelines of the TICAD7 conference.
Mr. Nagasaka said they have already established a factory specializing in making solar pumps for agriculture production employing former veterans at their factory in Uganda.
President Yoweri Museveni said the atmosphere in Uganda is good for business and he encouraged investors in solar project to exploit the opportunity to produce batteries.
“Japan has the technology and skills, we have the raw materials and the labour, it would be good to collaborate. In Uganda we have developed a solar powered car and bus. It would be important to have partnerships that we can collaborate with to produce solar batteries for these vehicles,” he said.
He called on the companies interested in fighting malaria to work with Ugandan scientists to develop bacteria for larvacide and insecticide for indoor residue spraying.
He also urged the federation to exploit investments in water transport on Uganda’s vast water resources for both cargo and human transport saying it is much cheaper than road transport.
The President invited them to Uganda to discuss further collaboration opportunities.