Ensure financial inclusion to push investors into continental markets – Minister Anite
Left-Right: Bpifrance Export Development Advisor Mr Ramzi Ajami, State Minister for Investment and Privatisation Ms Evelyn Anite, and Equity Bank Managing Director Mr Gift Shoko share a light moment during the Equity Investors Trade Mission in Kampala on May 23, 2025. Photo by Paul Adude.
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Ms Anite made these remarks while addressing delegates from 17 countries at the second Equity Investors Trade Mission held in Kampala on Friday
The State Minister for Investment and Privatisation, Ms. Evelyn Anite, has emphasized the need for financial institutions in Uganda to empower people to invest and add value to their products, enabling the country to compete effectively in regional and continental markets.
“Equity Bank aims to finance 100 million people, which will help Ugandans access the regional market of 300 million people. Since Equity’s target is Africa at large, they will be able to tap into the 1.4 billion-strong trade market across the continent,” she said.
Ms Anite made these remarks while addressing delegates from 17 countries at the second Equity Investors Trade Mission held in Kampala on Friday.
She noted that providing access to finance will solve a major bottleneck for Ugandans with ideas but lacking the means to turn those ideas into meaningful economic gain.
“If people are facilitated with money, it will be easier for them to access the regional market,” she added.
Ms Anite urged investors to consider purchasing land in the country’s 18 industrial park zones, especially in rural areas, to improve access to cross-border markets.
“Our investors are not yet confident to move into rural areas because they believe purchasing power is concentrated in the capital city. We are encouraging fellow citizens who have access to capital to invest in these areas. For foreign investors, it is difficult to enter rural areas without security assurance,” she explained.
Equity Bank Managing Director Mr Gift Shoko said the mission, which attracted over 45 potential investors, is part of the bank’s Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan aimed at boosting investment across the region and continent.
“Our group planned to mobilize $6 billion between 2020 and 2030 to promote investment in East Africa, which represents about 2 percent of the East African Community’s GDP. We have trade finance instruments that can quickly support exports of goods from Uganda into Europe,” he said.
Mr. Shoko emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses to add value to raw materials, enabling the export of value-added goods and services and contributing to the country’s GDP growth.
Bpifrance export development advisor Mr Ramzi Ajami stressed the need for investors to build capacity alongside local partners to foster co-development.
“We prefer to enter markets by partnering with local businesses to create bridges and promote commercial trade between France and Uganda,” he said.
