VP Howard-Taylor Consults Uganda’s President -As she seeks More Intra-Africa Investment Opportunities

Visiting Kampala, Uganda from June 14th to 17th, 2021, to explore investment opportunities between Liberia and Uganda in the areas of trade, industrialization and infrastructural development, Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has paid a courtesy call on Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in a highly strategic meeting that focused on how Liberia can achieve economic independence, leveraging on the wealth of experience from President Museveni.

For most part of the deliberations, Vice President Howard-Taylor played a listening role while recognizing President Museveni as one of the Fathers on the African continent, lauding his historical involvements in the African liberation struggle.

In providing the Liberian Vice President his candid advice on how Liberia can achieve economic independence and rapid growth, President Museveni identified five factors that the Liberian government must prioritize.

President Museveni cautioned the Liberian government to pay more attention to commercial agriculture, industries/factories, education, health, transport, banks, ICT and public service, which encompass decentralization and local government.

The highly educative deliberation saw President Museveni further expounding on the historical antecedents which occasioned the political and economic independence of African Nations.

Vice President Howard-Taylor used the occasion to tour the Kampala Industrial and Business Park at Namve- the largest industrial hub in Uganda, sitting on 26,000 hectares of land. The industrial park has attracted over 400 investors for development in various sub-sectors to include agro processing, mineral processing, ICT, logistics and   tourism among others.

Veep Howard-Taylor used the occasion to emphasize the need to collaborate with Uganda on the establishment of a Steel Industry considering Liberia’s comparative advantage of having over 4 billion tons of Iron Ore deposits compared to Uganda’s 400 million tons of Iron Ore deposits.

She disclosed that Liberia has the ability to supply the entire Africa with Steel based on its deposits of Iron Ore.

The Liberian second-in-command also held discussions with the Consortium of Joada Consults and Development Infrastructure to finalize arrangements on the construction of about 5,000 to 10, 000 housing units in Liberia, with the ground-breaking expected in July, 2021.

She commended the investment group for choosing Liberia as an investment destination while emphasizing significance of the Project.

Officially dedicating the newly constructed headquarters of the Consortium of Joada Consults and Development Infrastructure, Vice President Howard-Taylor used the occasion to commend the institution for creating jobs and contributing to Uganda and Africa’s economic development.