The Republic of Uganda will join other African countries in participating in the forth coming Russia – Africa Summit and Economic Forum that will be held in the coastal city of Sochi, Russian Federation from 23rd – 24th October 2019 under the theme “For Peace, Security and Development”
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, will lead Uganda’s delegation comprising of Cabinet Ministers and Senior Government Officials of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) to the Summit.
Uganda’s participation was confirmed by Amb. Patrick Mugoya, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a meeting he held yesterday with H.E. Alexander Polyakov the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Uganda and his delegation at the Ministry’s Headquarters.
The Ambassador called on the Office of the Permanent Secretary to discuss matters of Bilateral, Regional and International concern among other issues.
The Russia–Africa Summit is the first of its kind in the history of Russian-African relations and will be co-chaired by H.E. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation and H.E. Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Chairman of the African Union (AU).
The Ambassador informed the meeting that the Summit will focus particularly on the actual and potential relations between Russia and African Nations, Development of constructive interaction in the political, economic, humanitarian, and cultural fields among others with an emphasis on finding ways to accelerate and develop the entire range of Russian-African cooperation in a systematic way.
Amb. Alexandor further informed that the Summit plenary sessions will discuss a wide range of issues on the international agenda and to compare views on pressing issues of vital interest to Russia and Africa.
The Economic Forum will also be attended by African Heads of State, Representatives of Russian, African, and International business and Government Agencies, and representatives of African integration associations. The Forum will be a strategically important step towards creating favourable conditions for the development of trade and economic relations between Russia and Africa and will also diversify the forms and areas of Russian-African cooperation.
The Programme for the Economic Forum will include a plenary session and a series of roundtables and panel discussions. Participants will discuss the following topics: The role of Russia’s agenda in Africa.
Africa’s role in the international financial system, expanding cooperation, export and investment, as well as security challenges. A significant set of trade, economic, and investment agreements is expected to be signed following the conclusion of the Forum.
In regard to Bilateral issues, Amb. Mugoya highlighted that Museveni, and Putin, will use this opportunity to have constructive engagements to explore ways strengthening Bilateral cooperation between Uganda and Russia.
It is also expected that the above mentioned meeting of both Heads of State will conclude with the signing of a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU’s) specifically in key sectors of Health, Education and Agriculture.
