By Drake Nyamugabwa
Leading Indian business leaders in Uganda have been awarded by the India Business Forum, an umbrella organization for Indian Companies and an arm of The Indian Association of Uganda.
During the award night held at Serena hotel on Tuesday 26th Feb 2019, the High Commissioner of India to Uganda, Shri Ravi Shankar appealed to the Uganda business community to balance the India- Uganda trade deficit through increasing exports to India.
He noted that although the Indian community is only 28,000 of the entire Uganda population, they are contributing more than 65% to Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through diversified businesses in agriculture, real estate, hospitality, construction, IT and education among others.
He also applauded Uganda’s good business environment, saying that it’s very conducive for investment.
Key businesses owned by investors of Indian origin include Metha group, Mukwano Group and Ruparelia Group among others.
“There might be some issues, but I commend the business environment created by the current government especially President Yoweri Museveni for all he has done. He is positive minded on resolving problems concerning how business can be improved,” he said.
The Secretary General of the India Business Forum Rupayi Ujar said that the forum has achieved a lot including implementing government policies that enhance trade, creating a structure to ease communication between the Indian community and government of Uganda and internship programmes with Uganda universities among others.
The award winners included Ugakat in the E-commerce category, Speke Group of Hotels in the hospitality category, Ms Sheena Ruparelia in category of Female Young Entrepreneur, Dilip Bandale for Best Indian CEO, The property Services limited for Construction / Real estate category among others.
