The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has requested a visiting delegation of Chinese legislators to make use of their affect to advertise Uganda as one of many tourism locations for his or her citizenry.
“We hope your go to will assist elevate the profile of Uganda in China as a vacation spot for Chinese vacationers, we attraction to you to make use of your workplace to encourage Chinese vacationers to go to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa,” Tayebwa informed the delegation from the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China, led by H.E. Zhong Shan on Monday, 23 September 2024 at Parliament House..
Zhong Shan is a member of the Standing Committee of the NPC which is China’s highest organ of state energy and its nationwide legislature. He can also be the Chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee of the NPC.
Tayebwa recommended Uganda’s friendship with China highlighting key milestones within the bodily infrastructure that has been constructed and expanded with monetary help from the Government of China.
“Some of the key tasks that benefited from the loans from China embrace: Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, 183MW Isimba Hydro Power Plant and the Karuma Hydro Power Plant, growth of the Entebbe International Airport and participation within the National ICT spine undertaking. For these and lots of extra, we’re grateful and hope to proceed partaking,” mentioned Tayebwa.
Tayebwa was equally grateful to China for the beneficial commerce relations, applauding China for together with Uganda among the many international locations benefiting from the 98 % tax waiver on China’s imports.
He famous that Uganda has submitted an inventory of merchandise to profit from the tax waiver however remains to be grappling with assembly the required requirements. The merchandise embrace beef, pepper and aquatic merchandise (fish and fish merchandise).
“Total earnings from Uganda’s exports to China is at US$94.93 million in comparison with US$1.817 billion imports from China [Bank of Uganda, 2023]. We want to extend our exports to china,” Tayebwa mentioned in regard to the steadiness of commerce between the 2 international locations.
He appreciated China’s dedication of US$51 billion pledge in the direction of programmes in Africa for the subsequent three years, which the Chinese President, Xi Jinping introduced on the simply concluded summit on Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing.
Zhong on his half mentioned China is able to ‘stroll shoulder to shoulder’ with Uganda amongst different African Countries to implement the outcomes of the discussion board.
“China-Africa relations have been deepened, and as H.E. Xi Jinping introduced on the opening ceremony of the summit that China will be part of Africa to implement the ten partnership actions by means of its nationwide organisations,” mentioned Zhong.
As the chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee, Zhong pledged to desk Tayebwa’s proposals and considerations earlier than the committee upon his return to China.
The Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi, applauded the Chinese authorities for his or her exceptional contribution to Uganda’s financial system which he mentioned has been steadily rising with a mean six % GDP progress fee.
Musasizi talked about an formidable technique by the Ugandan authorities to spice up its GDP fee from US$55 billion to US$500 billion by 2039.
The assembly held within the Parliament Conference Hall was additionally attended by MPs Moses Aleper; Mwine Mpaka; Robert Migadde; Dicksons Kateshumbwa; Sylvia Nayebale; and Amos Kankunda.
