"The presence of Uganda at Expo 2015 is a great opportunity to present our country to the international community, to strengthen already existing links and create new partnerships. For Uganda it is an opportunity to promote a number of products, from coffee to fish, from leather to crafts," said the head of the country's delegation, Minister of Trade and Industry, Amelia Kyambadde, in her speech at the official ceremony that opened the National Day. Uganda, in the heart of equatorial Africa, is one of the fastest expanding economies in the continent with an average GDP growth of 7.1 percent from 2005 to 2014, due to its stable government, young population and the entrepreneurial skills of Ugandan families.
Undersecretary for the Economy Paola De Micheli emphasised the strategic role of Uganda in Africa: "It is a young nation that will play a decisive role in Africa and not just with regard to the food security debate, but also due to an agriculture that is showing extraordinary potential." After the official ceremony the Nedere Troupe performed again and then accompanied the parade to the Ugandan pavilion in the Coffee Cluster, where the folk group's subsequent performance involved the visitors.
Later, Minister Kyambadde visited the Kenyan and Rwandan pavilions, again inside the Cluster, and then that of Tanzania, in the Spices Cluster. The official dinner, as usual, took place at Palazzo Italia. The day dedicated to Uganda continued with the business forum, "Uganda, a land of opportunity: coffee, tourism and investment", a meeting that presented the opportunities for growth and investment in Uganda for foreign businessmen, especially Italian ones. The Ugandan music and dance performances will be repeated in the Coffee Cluster between July 4 and 7, while during the same period the artist Nuwa Wamala Nnyanzi will present batik, a special technique for colouring fabrics. (AGI)