Uganda has signed a memorandum of understanding with UAE to establish one of the world’s only agricultural free zones in an attempt to enhance food security in the Emirates.
The 2,500-hectare free zone will allow private companies from the UAE to invest in agricultural production and development in Uganda.
Mariam Al Mehairi, Minister for Food Security said, it will also act as a launch pad for further investment into East and Central Africa. “There is a lot of potential to be unlocked in that area,” she said.
The agreement was signed at Agriscape, a two-day exhibition in Abu Dhabi that convenes dozens of producers, suppliers and investors from across the globe. The deal will promote agribusiness between the two countries and lead to an increase in UAE imports of Ugandan crops and beef.
As a result, the country imports about 90 per cent of its food and is therefore pursuing mutually beneficial opportunities in Africa and beyond. Talks began with the Ugandan government last year after the Gulfood exhibition in Dubai in February.
“Since then, about 14 Emirati companies have expressed interest in investing in the African country,” Uganda’s Agriculture Minister Vincent Ssempijja noted.
The UAE will look for similar, complementary investments in surrounding countries.
“Africa in general, from Uganda, Rwanda and South Africa to Nigeria and Zambia, is very promising,” said Khadim Al Darei, deputy chairman of Al Dahra, the headline sponsor of Agriscape.
“Currently only 5 per cent of African land has been utilized for agriculture and the consumers are also coming from Africa. Imagine if we find a way to tap into that, we would reduce speculation in prices and also feed the continent. How can it be that 800 million are suffering from hunger, while we have 600 million people suffering from obesity?” said Mr. Khadim
Food security has topped agendas all over the world as temperatures rise, but it is perhaps most pressing in Africa, where hunger is widespread and conflict and political instability deter investors.
Many Sub-Saharan countries feel international agricultural investment is the way to achieve that, “We are here to sell an image of our country as a good investment,” said Emmanuel Mulilo, a minister from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He said although the country was racked by conflict, it could feed its population, bolster agricultural production and start to export with agribusiness investment, bringing jobs and wealth.
The UAE has been one of Africa’s biggest investors; last year imports from Africa were valued at $21 billion (Dh77.13 billion).