President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today left for the Russian Coastal city of Sochi where he will meet the Russian President Vladmir Putin and join other 36 heads of State and governments for the Russia-Africa Summit.
The Economic Forum opens tomorrow Wednesday at the Sirius Park of Science and Art in Sochi, one of Russia’s largest convention venues.
The President who is accompanied by his daughter Diana Museveni Kamuntu was seen off this morning on departure at the VVIP lounge, Entebbe International Airport by the Minister for Presidency Esther Mbayo, the Head of Civil Service John Mitala, the Commander Air Forces Major General James Lutaaya, the AIGP Andrew Sorowen and the Commissioner for Uganda Prisons Johnson Byabasheija.
The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin who will later host his guests to a gala reception will officially open the Summit.
President Putin in his welcome message to the participants said members of government agencies and business community and experts will substantially discuss the current status and prospects of cooperation and a wide range of topical issues of the world economy.
The world’s largest wheat exporter, Russia is also looking to ramp up its supplies of grain and fertilizer to meet demand that is rising in step with Africa’s booming population.
Reuters reports that U.S. officials have vowed to counter what they see as Moscow’s growing political and economic clout in Africa as well as that of China, which has long had a large economic presence there and began its own series of Africa summits in 2006.
In December, then U.S. national security adviser John Bolton accused Moscow of “corrupt” and “predatory” business practices and of selling arms and energy in exchange for votes at the United Nations. Moscow denies that.
On Monday, Putin gave the clearest idea yet of his pitch to African countries, warning of rising competition over Africa. Turning the tables on the West, he accused it of intimidating African countries to exploit the continent’s resources.
“We see how an array of Western countries are resorting to pressure, intimidation and blackmail of sovereign African governments,” Putin told the TASS news agency.
