As Uganda Airlines prepares to inaugurate a new 5-hour direct route to India, Ugandans have been urged to seize the opportunity and organize themselves to capitalize on the national airline’s endeavor, with the aim of addressing trade imbalances and bolstering economic growth.
Uganda Airlines is set to take to the skies on October 7, 2023, marking a historic moment as it opens a direct route to Mumbai with three flights a week. The announcement comes as part of a broader initiative to enhance trade relations between Uganda and India.
Speaking at the Uganda-India Trade Business Forum, a collaborative effort between Uganda Airlines and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) held at Serena Hotel, Kampala on October 2, 2023, the Works Minister, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, emphasized the substantial benefits that direct flights to Mumbai could bring to Uganda’s economy.
“There is a wealth of opportunities for Uganda in India, and the introduction of direct flights from Uganda to Mumbai presents an exceptional chance for our nation. With a population of over one billion people in India, we can tap into this vast market by exporting more Ugandan products to India,” Katumba Wamala noted.
The Chief Executive Officer of Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), Abel Mwesigye, stressed the diverse range of products that Ugandan traders can now export to India. These products include items from the tourism sector, agricultural products, and various manufactured goods.
He expressed gratitude to Uganda Airlines for expanding its routes to include India, noting that this development would greatly benefit the business community engaged in importing and exporting to and from India.
The Minister, alongside representatives from UNDP and the CEO of Uganda Airlines, met with several invited partners during the India-Uganda Trade Business Forum. This gathering provided an opportunity to discuss strategies to strengthen trade relations between the two countries and address concerns of traders in Uganda.
The launch of direct flights from Uganda to India is a huge step to boosting economic growth and trade between the two nations.
