New Delhi hosted the third session of the India-Uganda Joint Trade Committee (JTC) from 25th-26th March 2025, bringing prominence to the growing bilateral relations between the two countries. It marked a significant step in improving relations after a gap of 23 years, emphasising the mutual commitment to enhancing trade and investment ties.
The inaugural session was addressed by Mr. Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, where he highlighted the deep-rooted and historic relations between India and Uganda and called for greater economic cooperation in emerging fields like clean energy, e-commerce, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem, and healthcare infrastructure.
Both parties reviewed the bilateral trade volume and acknowledged the fact that it has much more potential left to be realised. To enhance and reflect the full utilisation of trade prospects, they resolved to take planned efforts to bridge existing trade gaps, deepen and diversify their trade basket, and create institutions to address trade barriers. They identified minerals, coffee, cocoa products, pulses, spices, dairy products, essential oils, plastic raw materials, fruits, vegetables, and residual chemical products as key areas to boost trade and investment.
The Indian side was headed by Economic Advisor to the Department of Commerce, Ms. Priya P. Nair, while the Ugandan delegation was co-chaired by Ambassador Elly Kamahungye Kafeero, Head of the International Political Cooperation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Uganda. Ambassador Kafeero was accompanied by Ambassador Professor Joyce Kikafunda Kakuramatsi, Head of Mission, Uganda High Commission in New Delhi, and a high-level 28-member Ugandan delegation consisting of senior officials from various ministries and Uganda’s Mission to India.
Major discussions were taken in the formation of an India-Uganda Joint Business Forum to facilitate increased engagement between industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs from both countries. This forum aims to provide a proper platform for businesses to interact, network, and address practical challenges faced by them when operating bilaterally.
Sectoral cooperation was viewed as an important area that requires more intervention. Priority sectors for collaboration included mining, banking, digital infrastructure, MSME development, health, pharmaceuticals, electric vehicles, critical minerals (including Rare Earth Elements), and petrochemicals. Both sides also agreed to strengthen collaboration between their respective investment promotion agencies.
The meeting explored the establishment of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in areas such as the recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia, public works and infrastructure, agriculture and allied sectors, traditional medicine, and telemedicine. Strengthening and increasing collaboration in standardization was also discussed.
On the sidelines, the Ugandan delegation toured the Noida Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to gain insights into India’s industrial and export ecosystem. The convening of the JTC meeting in March 2025 is part of a broader effort to revitalise bilateral trade relations between the two nations. In January 2025, Uganda participated in the Outbound Travel Market (OTM) Expo in Mumbai, aiming to promote its tourism sector and attract Indian tourists. Additionally, in October 2024, an India-Uganda Trade Mission was held in Kampala focusing on sectors such as health, information technology, agriculture, energy, roads, transport, tourism, real estate, and defence.
The outcomes of the March 2025 JTC meeting are expected to pave the way for increased trade and investment between India and Uganda. By focusing on diverse sectors and establishing collaborative frameworks, both countries aim to harness their complementary strengths, fostering sustainable economic growth and development.
