Japanese businessmen under their High level business federation, the Keidanren, have expressed their interest to partner with Ugandan companies and government and invest in agro-processing, construction, solar panel production, transportation and in medical equipment.
According to a Uganda Presidential Press Unit (PPU) news release 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, met Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni during a courtesy call they made to him at the InterContinental Yokohama Grand Hotel at the sidelines of the TICAD7 conference.
Nagasaka said they have already established a factory specializing in making solar pumps for agriculture production employing former veterans at their factory in Uganda.
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.
Museveni invited them to Uganda to discuss further collaboration opportunities.
Museveni also called on the Japanese private sector to partner with Uganda and commercialize banana flour production in saying this will promote food security for humanity.
“African foods are very nutritious. Millet for example, is the only cereal with carbohydrates, protein and iron together. It can save humanity. Bananas also make very good flour which is gluten free. We can work with the private sector here to commercialize its production,” he said.
Museveni was meeting Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and his delegation at Inter-Continental, Yokohama Grand Hotel.
He said investors in agro-processing can exploit the great potential that Africa offers with easy access to markets in the Middle East, Europe, Japan and China.
Dr. Shinichi Kitaoka, hailed Uganda for assisting refugees from South Sudan adding that his organization is focusing on working with refugees on mental health and nutrition.
“We have embarked on dry land rice production in northern Uganda to provide food, improve nutrition and avoid drought. Our efforts are aimed at promoting agricultural mechanized agriculture to produce more food for export,” he said.
CN/abj/APA