Minister Amongi woos German investors 

Betty Amongi, the minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, was in Germany recently, wooing investors to come to Uganda and set up handicraft-based industries that can create value and jobs for youths.

In a press statement, she said Uganda’s youths, who account for more than two thirds of the population, offer a large labourforce for German investors that are looking to set up handicraft factories in the country.

Amongi was in Germany as the guest-of-honor at this year’s Congress of the International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA) at the invitation of IAPMA President Franziska Leischker aka Fides Linien, who is also a director of The Xsabo Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of The Xsabo Group, an Afro-European company which owns the largest solar power plants in Uganda and East and Central Africa.

Xsabo Group has already undertaken a solar power project in Gomba district, which is already connected to Uganda’s power grid. The company is exploring for more energy opportunities in different parts of Uganda.

Amongi invited the more than 120 artists present at the function to hold one of their next congresses in Uganda “and enjoy the world-famous hospitality of the Pearl of Africa,” according to the press statement.

Amongi was accompanied on her engagements in Germany by Stephen Mubiru, Uganda’s ambassador to Germany, and Dr. David Alobo, CEO/Managing Director of The Xsabo Group, whose organization facilitated and managed the Ugandan minister’s visit to Germany.

Dr Alobo told The Observer that The Xsabo Group will continue to use commercial diplomacy to initiate projects that support Government efforts to lift the people of Uganda out of poverty and spur prosperity.

“I live in Germany but come from Uganda and it is important that I give back to Uganda and Ugandans as I have the capacity to do so,” he said, explaining further that the commercial diplomacy activities of The Xsabo Group “are meant to supplement and complement that of Uganda’s diplomatic missions abroad, not to compete with or attempt to replace them…”