Kasaija elected new chairman of African Trade Insurance Agency
What you need to know:
Uganda’s shareholding in ATI currently stands at $22.9 million, which is 7.4 per cent of ATI’s overall capital. Uganda has received more than Shs2 billion in dividend payments from ATI in the last two years.
Some of the flagship projects in Uganda ATI has been involved in include; Kalangala multi-purpose infrastructure project, Karuma hydropower plant and projects undertaken by Uganda Electricity Transmission Company.
The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Matia Kasaija has been elected the new chairman of the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI).
Mr Kasaija’s election took place at the 20th virtual Annual General meeting of shareholders of the African Trade Insurance Agency at the weekend.
Uganda is a founding member of ATI, which was established in 2000 as a Pan-African Institution to promote trade and investment in Africa through providing risk-underwriting solutions to companies, investors and lenders interested in doing business in Africa.
The ATI has a membership of about 20 African countries and other organisations including COMESA, African Development Bank and PTA Bank.
Kasaija takes over from Romuald Wadagni the Minister of the Economy and Finance of the Republic of Benin and he will be deputised by the Finance Minister of Ghana.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Kasaija said shareholders expect ATI to continue providing innovative solutions that will help countries manage the longer-term effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
“I wish to note that ATI is financially sound and this gives the organization a strong basis to safeguard its business against the negative consequences of COVID-19,” said Mr Kasaija, adding that he looks forward to working with all stakeholders during his term of office.
With the support of ATI, governments are able to manage their growing debt levels by re-profiling their costlier and riskier debts and replacing them with longer term, cheaper debts from international commercial lenders.
The ATI itself is currently insuring 1-2 per cent of the GDP of its member countries and is expected to facilitate US Dollar 2 billion of additional investments to the Continent in the next 12 to 24 months.
Uganda’s shareholding in ATI currently stands at $22.9 million, which is 7.4 per cent of ATI’s overall capital. Uganda has received more than Shs2 billion in dividend payments from ATI in the last two years.
Some of the flagship projects in Uganda ATI has been involved in include; Kalangala multi-purpose infrastructure project, Karuma hydropower plant and projects undertaken by Uganda Electricity Transmission Company.
The audited financial statement for FY 2019 published as part of the annual report for 2019, ATI's gross written premium was $111.9 million compared to $66.2 million in FY 2018 representing an increase of 69 per cent.
The ATI’s underwriting profit was $21.0 million compared to $6.7 million in 2018, while the net earned premium increased by $5.3 million from $12.8 million in FY 2018 to $18.1 million in FY 2019.
