In a speech read by the Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, President Yoweri Kagutta Museveni said a major element of reforming business operations is to invest in peace so as to guarantee the security of persons and property. This was at the opening of the 6th Ease of Doing Business Initiative (EDBI) Conference for Eastern and Southern Africa. The President noted that Uganda has not compromised on this (peace) in terms of budgetary resource allocation and having requisite provisions in the law.
The three days conference is taking place at Kampala Serena Hotel with over 400 delegates from over 15 countries. The President noted that prosperity of a nation is built around a minimum of five pillars namely; security to guarantee business operations in fragile and conflict affected States, infrastructure, private sector investment, ICT, and regional integration. Museveni said government had put a lot of emphasis on infrastructure using local resources complemented with loans.
The President said government was also paying attention to the regulatory burdens that businesses face in a life cycle that begins with business registration, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes and trading across borders.
The objectives of the Ease of Doing Business Initiative Conference, were:
- Facilitate sharing of knowledge and experience on investment climate reforms in Eastern and Southern Africa;
- Improve the investment climate and increase the region’s share of investment flows and export markets, in line with the stated regional economic integration objectives of the involved Regional Economic Communities and Member States; and
- Facilitate the showcasing of best practice under one roof , encouraging political buy-in, following through of committed reform agenda.
The 2014 5th Ease of Doing Business Initiative (EDBI) Conference for Eastern and Southern Africa was held in Mozambique.
