By Babra Nambuya & Shamim Saad
A high-powered investment and business delegation from the Republic of Azerbaijan has visited Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to get first-hand information on investment and business opportunities in Uganda.
The Azeri delegation, from the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations (SAPSSI), under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was led by Abdul Aliyev, the President of SAPSSI. They also came to share experiences of their One-Stop Shop for Investors with the UIA-operated One-Stop Centre for Investors that provides primary investment and business support services under one roof.
The UIA One-Stop Centre services include investment and business advisory, business registration, investment licensing, tax registration, trade registration, land verification, environmental impact assessment, standards for products and services, immigration advisory, utilities (power and water), statutory payments, social security, employer-employee relations, tourism advisory, etc.)
Welcoming the delegation, Deputy Director General, Dr. Paul Kyalimpa, said UIA is a one-stop centre for key investment and business support services, all geared towards increasing efficiencies in order to ease doing being and increase Uganda’s competitiveness in investment and business.
Dr. Kyalimpa said Uganda has vast resources, many investment and business opportunities, and very conducive environment for investment and business, making it the best investment destination in East Africa.
He said Uganda offers generous incentives for both domestic and foreign investors in addition to allowance of 100-percent foreign ownership of companies and repatriation of profits. He encouraged the delegation to go back and spread the good news about investing and doing business in Uganda.
The head of SAPSSI, Mr. Abdul Aliyev, said they are impressed with, in particular, what UIA is doing to promote investment, and Uganda generally for having in place the right environment for doing business and investment.
Mr. Aliyev said they will collaborate with UIA and share experiences on how Azerbaijan has managed to transform its business and investment terrain within a short span of time.
The Minister of State for Public Service, Hon. Grace Mary Mugasa, who accompanied the delegation, said Uganda offers great opportunities for investment and business.
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