By Emmanuel Okol

The Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo has this morning flagged-off a high powered delegation under the Busoga Development Consortium to China.

The team is expected to depart on July 03 and 06 July for China for the establishment of cooperation between Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD) and Liaoning Province of China.

While flagging off the team, VP Alupo asked the delegation to use this cooperation to further contribute to the improvement of our National trade volumes to close up the China-Uganda trade deficit gap for a more balanced bilateral trade exchange.

She guided the team to focus on bilateral trade and investment because it is one of the ways the country can attain mutually beneficial international bilateral relations to the full benefit of our people.

The delegation was led by the Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the 1st Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of EAC Affairs, and His Royal Highness the Kyabazinga of Busoga William Gabula IV.

“Busoga and Uganda at large “MUST” therefore aim at building capacity to offer products to the China Uganda trade exchanges so as to make the cooperation beneficial to our people.” Alupo said.

Since the majority of our people are in Agriculture, Alupo encouraged the delegation to make the best use of the already established trade links with Liaoning Province in China, by building capacity to have some tradable items for export market to China.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Uganda’s bilateral trade volume with China has experienced significant growth to a tune of $1.3 Billion by last year.

Alupo further tasked the delegation to attract companies from China to come and invest in the value addition of coffee and tea as they embark on the strategic journey of enhancing the glory of Busoga region.

The vice president, also MP for Katakwi district said the Consortium should work closely with the Busoga Kingdom, faith-based institutions, Government MDAs, to maximize the benefits to all the grassroots people.

“Capacity building and mindset change. Our people should transition from subsistence lifestyles to commercially viable enterprises. They should be helped to fully embrace ICT for business, registering of trading companies, management of simple books of accounts,” she said.

The VP noted that there are four sectors where the NRM Government has identified as a source of jobs and wealth, including: Commercial agriculture, Industry/manufacturing, Services and I.C.T.

She urged the delegation to explore all the above sectors in our engagement with China for the sake of the transformation of our people.

She commended BDC for the unique and special contributions to the socioeconomic transformation of our Nation.

While representing the Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the Patron of BDC at the flag off ceremony in Kampala, the Rt. Hon. Rukia Nakadama, the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister said the Uganda-Busoga delegation to Liaoning province and Guangdong province will sign  a five-year  cooperation agreement with focus on; education, trade and commerce, tourism promotion and agriculture among others.

Nakadama is also the chairperson of the Busoga Consortium Ministerial Coordination Committee.