Bangkok, Thailand – Uganda positioned itself as one of Africa’s most promising emerging investment destinations during the “Pearl of Africa Uganda Business Forum & Expo 2025 Thailand Chapter,” held on 26 November 2025 at the Bangkok Intercontinental Hotel. Organised by the Uganda High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, accredited to Thailand, the event aimed to strengthen trade, tourism, and investment cooperation between Uganda and Thailand, while presenting Uganda as a strategic gateway to a consumer market of more than 500 million people across the EAC and COMESA regions.
The forum highlighted four key sectors: Tourism & Hospitality, Agro-Industrialisation and Food Processing, ICT & Innovation, and Mining, Oil & Gas. Uganda also showcased extensive investment incentives, including Free Economic Zones, tax exemptions, import duty waivers, guaranteed profit repatriation, and streamlined services through a one-stop investment facilitation framework. These incentives were presented under the broader theme of fostering “Sustainable Shared Prosperity.”
Speaking at the event, Hon. Fredrick Ngobi Gume, Minister of State for Trade in charge of Co-operatives, emphasised that the series ofs Expos aims to deepen Uganda’s economic ties with Asian countries. He encouraged Thai investors to explore opportunities in mineral exploration, value addition, renewable energy, and cross-border energy networks linking Thailand to African markets.
High Commissioner Amb. Betty Bigombe underscored Uganda’s strategic location, macroeconomic stability, and growing market confidence, noting that bilateral trade between Uganda and Thailand had risen by USD 59 million in 2024. She reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to attracting Thai businesses and expanding two-way trade and tourism. Representing Uganda’s Permanent Secretary, Amb. Richard Kabonero highlighted the success of earlier expos in Indonesia and Malaysia, expressing optimism that the Thailand edition would further expand economic cooperation.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by H.E. Mrs. Urasa Mongkolnavin, commended Uganda’s consistency in promoting its opportunities. She noted that Thai tour operators who visited Uganda in 2024 were now actively selling Ugandan tourism packages. She further announced Thailand’s decision to relaunch the Thailand-Africa Initiative (TAI) to broaden engagement with Africa.
The event concluded with panel discussions and B2B/G2G sessions, with participation from multiple Ugandan ministries, agencies, and private sector actors.
Group photos of scenes from the Forum (High Commission of the Republic) of Uganda- Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia)
