Uganda has launched the Pearl of Africa Business Forum & Expo 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, aiming to attract $5 billion in trade and investment over the next five years. The two-day event, held at the Renaissance Hotel on April 23–24, showcases Uganda’s investment opportunities across key sectors including agriculture, oil and gas, tourism, and technology.
A delegation led by Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa, and Agriculture Minister Bright Rwamirama is engaging Malaysian investors and business leaders. Uganda’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ambassador Betty Oyella Bigombe, emphasized the event’s strategic importance, stating, “Today is more than just a business forum; it is a bridge between nations, between opportunity and ambition, and between vision and action.”
Ambassador Bigombe highlighted Uganda’s rich natural resources, a youthful and energetic population, and a stable, liberalized economy. She noted that Uganda serves as a gateway to the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), offering investors access to a regional market of over 300 million consumers.
Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa underscored Uganda’s policy of not exporting raw materials, pointing to significant opportunities in mineral processing. “Our iron ore is the best in the world; we have copper, oil, gold, and several other minerals,” she said, inviting investors to participate in the sector.
The expo, themed “Unlocking Uganda’s Business Potential,” focuses on five high-impact sectors: agro-industrialization, tourism development, oil and gas, science and technology, and mineral development. Ambassador Bigombe invited investment in eco-lodges, hospitality services, and tourism infrastructure to harness the potential of Uganda’s national parks, including Kidepo Valley, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, and the Rwenzori Mountains.
Uganda’s investment framework allows 100% foreign ownership in most sectors, guarantees repatriation of profits, and offers tax holidays, customs exemptions, and infrastructure support for priority areas. The Uganda Investment Authority has profiled over 120 bankable projects across various sectors.
The forum is organized by the Uganda High Commission in Malaysia and the World-One Business Federation, with support from the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It includes business-to-business and government-to-government interactions, aiming to foster partnerships and identify new business opportunities between Ugandan and Malaysian enterprises.
As Malaysia assumes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2025, Uganda seeks to deepen its economic ties with the region, positioning itself as a leading investment destination in Africa. The Pearl of Africa Business Forum & Expo 2025 marks a step in Uganda’s efforts to attract strategic investments and drive long-term economic growth
