Uganda, Italy Launch Business Hub To Boost Trade And Investment

What the report says

Uganda and Italy have launched a Business Hub in Kampala to strengthen trade and investment ties and help Ugandan companies reach international markets. According to Nile Post, the initiative was unveiled on November 5, 2026, and is backed by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with implementation by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization through its Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Italy.

The hub is intended to support industrial growth, value addition and job creation, with a focus on sectors such as agribusiness, manufacturing, information and communications technology, and environmental sustainability. Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Sanjay Tanna, said the project fits into the country’s broader economic goals and urged a shift toward production, investment and market access rather than aid dependence.

Italy’s ambassador to Uganda, Mauro Massoni, said the platform should help Ugandan enterprises build links with Italian companies, institutions and technology providers. He also pointed to support for women-led businesses and young innovators. The article said the project has already offered training, regulatory guidance, finance support and business matchmaking to Ugandan firms.

UNIDO and Italian officials said the hub is meant to provide practical support for businesses while encouraging local ownership through Ugandan institutions and business associations. The effort involves several local partners, including the Ministry of Trade, the Uganda Manufacturers Association, the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Uganda Small Scale Industries Association.