President Yoweri Museveni has held discussions with Mr. Herbert Hlawati, Managing Director of an Austria-based Agrana Fruit Services, who called on him this evening at State House, Nakasero.
Mr. Hlawati is in Uganda to look into opportunities available in the country related to the fruit processing industry.
President Museveni, while welcoming him, said that Uganda is the best country in Africa for fruit growing because it has suitable and fertile land.
He informed his guest, whom the Austrian Honorary Consul Dr. Karl Wipfter accompanied, that Uganda also presents suitable conditions for the cultivation of other agricultural products such as tobacco, sugarcane, tea as well as dairy products.
The President identified Luweero district in Central Uganda as the best area for the establishment of fruit processing industry.
He assured the Austrian entrepreneur that Uganda has plenty of fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pineapples and apples, among others, to feed the fruit processing industry.
He assured the entrepreneur that the Government is working to operationalize irrigation system in areas that have little rainfall with a view to making the country produce all varieties of crops all the year round.
Mr. Museveni assured his guest that in 2 years’ time Uganda will be having railway transport in place to transport merchandise cheaply for the export market adding that the country will soon revive its national airline.
Mr. Hlawati told the President that his company will most focus on value addition in the fruit processing sector with a drive to supplying both the domestic and export markets.
