Vice President of Uganda meets Modi, discusses trade ties

AHMEDABAD: Vice President of Uganda Edward Ssekandi on Tuesday met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and held deliberations on strengthening ties.

Modi told Ssekandi, who was leading a 16-member high-level delegation from his country, that Gujarat was keen to build relations with the African nation in the fields of agriculture, micro-irrigation, fertilisers and petroleum.

The delegation comprised Agriculture Minister Tress Buchanayandi, Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Jacan Omach Frad and Uganda National Chamber of Commerce President Olive Kigong, an official statement said.

"GSPC is keen on exploring oil and gas and starting production in Uganda", the statement said quoting Modi.

"They discussed the possibility of the state's cooperation with Uganda in the field of small manufacturing industries, agriculture, micro irrigation, water management, canal network, oil and gas exploration and medical healthcare in which Gujarat had made significant progress," according to the release.

Modi invited farmers and agricultural scientists of Uganda to attend the coming annual "Krishi Mahotsav" in May and also study Gujarat's achievements in soil conservation, land programme and micro irrigation, it added.

The chief minister also evinced interest in sending two teams, comprising experts on agro business and agricultural equipment manufacturing, and on fertiliser, to set up such units in Uganda, the statement said.