UK declares 99 per cent duty free deal for Uganda
LORD POPAT WANTS MAJOR FIRMS TO RETURN TO AFRICAN COUNTRY
UK TRADE envoy Lord Dolar Popat returned from a ministerial visit to Uganda and announced a 99 per cent duty-free deal for Uganda’s exports to the UK trade market starting next year.
The Conservative peer’s trip focused on a series of deals, reflecting the UK’s growing trade ties with Uganda. Lord Popat spoke of his ambition to see major UK companies return to Uganda. “I have UK businesses lining up to invest and trade with Uganda, but they require a pace of delivery that Uganda needs to be able to support,” he said.
In his role as the prime minister’s trade envoy to Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, Lord Popat has worked to progress the memorandums of understanding signed with the government of Uganda into contracts to support agricultural exports, energy access and roads.
His visit also celebrated the appointment of the UK’s first British Indian
prime minister, Rishi Sunak, at the Afro-Indian Investment Summit in Uganda. It was held to mark the 50th anniversary of the expulsion of Ugandan Asians and the 100th anniversary of Indians in Uganda.
Lord Popat spoke about diversity in politics and said, “The UK has diversity in its government, not for the sake of it, but because it delivers better results and reflects the population”.
Lord Popat added, “I call upon people who call Africa their home to get involved in civic duty for the sake of country’s future as well as your own.”
During his trip, the Asian peer noted the UK government’s efforts to support business in Africa, including through the Growth Gateway Programme. It is a digital portal that helps support UK and African businesses trade and invest in one another’s markets. From next year, more than 99 per cent of all goods exported from Uganda will be eligible for duty-free access to the UK.