The Government of the Republic of Uganda will host the first session of the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) with the Federal Republic of Somalia from 6th – 7th August 2022 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala.
According to a statement released by the ministry, the main purpose of this meeting is to strengthen the existing excellent and cordial bilateral relations and deepen cooperation between both countries.
Uganda and Somalia enjoy excellent fraternal relations and strong historical bonds of friendship and solidarity firmly anchored on the principle of Pan Africanism.
“The bilateral relations between the two countries are mainly pursued through bilateral frameworks of Cooperation such as the JPC and Joint Permanent Investment and Business Council (JIBC) which will be hosted on a rotational basis between both countries.” Says the ministry.
Gen Jeje Abubakhar Odongo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda will lead Uganda’s delegation and Abshir Omar Huruuse, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia will lead his country’s delegation at the JPC meeting.
The key critical issues this JPC will address are exploring new areas of cooperation between both countries, regularizing the different sector technical meetings of the JPC and ensuring the timely implementation of all areas that have been agreed upon through an effective coordination and implementation mechanism.
The JPC will deliberate on enhancing bilateral cooperation between both countries in priority sector areas of diplomatic and political consultations, trade and investment, defence cooperation, agriculture, immigration, education and transport.
A Framework Agreement between the government of Uganda and government of Somalia was signed in Kampala, on 19th November 2016. A Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) signed in August, 2019 and MOU between Makerere University and Somali University. This Bilateral Air Service Agreement operationalized the commencement of Uganda Airlines direct flights from Uganda to Mogadishu.
In terms of defence cooperation, Uganda was the first country to deploy troops to Somalia and remains the leading Troop Contributing Country (TCC) to AMISOM.
AMISOM has brought relative peace and stability in Somalia, leading to some noticeable economic recovery, a boom in trade and reconstruction.
In a bid to enhance Bilateral Trade and implement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ policy of promoting commercial and economic diplomacy, Uganda will also host the 1st Uganda – Somalia Investment Business Summit under the theme “Promoting Uganda – Somalia Partnership through Investment, Trade and Tourism” from 9th – 10th August 2022 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The ministry says President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and his Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will address the private sector and the business communities of both countries at this forum.
“The primary objective of the Investment and Business Summit is to provide a platform for private sector/business community together with other relevant stakeholders like government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to freely exchange views and ideas on how to ease the cost-of-doing-business, and thus richly reap from existing and future business opportunities by agreeing on how to overcome existing challenges, learn lessons and business strategies for smooth mutual exchange between the two markets of Uganda and Somalia and beyond.” It says
The purpose of the Summit is to:
a) Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation in Trade and Investment between Uganda and Somalia.
b) Support potential investors/Business Community with a conducive business environment.
c) Raise awareness about investment and business opportunities that exist between Uganda and Somalia.
d) Enlighten Private Sector on positive Investment Policy changes in Uganda and Somalia.
e) Open dialogue and create a platform for collaboration between Uganda and Somalia public and private sectors.
f) Address any residual Non-Tariff Barriers, hindering trade and investment between Uganda and Somalia.
g) Establish an enduring forum for continual discourse on trade and investment.
h) Establish a Joint Investment and Business Council between Uganda and Somalia (JIBC).
