Blog

Day: September 29, 2012

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UK Convention’s Flashback: Hon. Maria Kiwanuka, Uganda’s Minister of Finance keynote presentation at the 2nd UK Convention

To keep up the momentum from last year’s successful 1st Convention, this year we are
focusing on particular sectors, which include investing in the agriculture, real estate, fi –
nancial sector, discussing the imminent introduction of the Diaspora bond as well as
exploring all facets and benefi ts offered by the bond to Diasporans.

Uganda has been pursuing a deliberate Policy to stimulate investments and enhance the expansion of economic activities. To this end, numerous opportunities now abound in several sectors, such as:
1. Agriculture and Agro Processing (Crops and Livestock);
2. Energy for Rural Transformation;
3. Tourism (Resorts, Hotels and Game/Forest parks);
4. Packaging, Printing and Publishing;
5. Services (Information & Communication Technology [ICT], Finance, Education and Medical); etc.

Uganda is the Pearl of Africa, with a population of 33 million warm people, excellent climatic conditions, fertile soils and beautiful scenery all over. It is also important to note that Uganda is a stable and fully liberalized economy, which has maintained an annual average growth rate of approximately 6.5% in the last 20 years.

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UK Convention’s Flashback: Hon. Maria Kiwanuka, Min.of Finance on Investing in Uganda’s Financial Markets

Hon. Maria Kiwanuka, Minister of Finance on Investing in Uganda’s Financial Markets — (Diaspora Bond)

Overview on the investing environment across Ugandan financial markets. Considerations to include preferred sectors, regulatory pressures and typical risk and return of investment funds, mitigation of risks, incentives and Diaspora Bond.

Moderator:
Edwin Senjobe, CRM Enterprise Architect at JuicyMobile

Panellists:
1. Hon. maria Kiwanuka, minister of fiance
2. Mr. Joseph S Kitamirike, Chief Executive, Uganda Securities Exchange
3. Mr. Eric-Vincent Guichard, CEO Homestrings
4. Mr. Phillip Wabulya, Executive Director Operations – Bank of Uganda
5. Mr. Kenneth Egesa, Assistant Director – Bank of Uganda

Harnessing the Diaspora financial base. Channeling remittance through the Diaspora Bonds. “If only a fraction of the African Diaspora ‘s annual savings could be tapped through Diaspora bonds, we could realistically estimate somewhere between $5bn and $10bn as the potential size of funds that could be raised,” argues DilipRatha, manager of the World Bank’s migration and remittances unit. Majority of remittance inflows have only fueled consumption and not been directed towards productive sector.

Talking Points • What are Diaspora bonds?
• Why should the Diaspora invest their hard earned cash in Diaspora bonds?
• What are the risks for potential investors and how can these be mitigated?
• Can outsider mobilise the Ugandan Diaspora or will it be necessary for the Ugandan government to strengthen its relationship with the Diaspora ?
• What is the role of the World Bank in all this? Can we trust the bank with our interests?
Moderator’s points RISKs (Trust, Market Maturity and a Diaspora Bond)
Trusting the Diaspora Bond
1. How will the bond be incentivised
2. How can the Bond’s project corruption and attrition be reduced
3. Are there risks of non-payment of earnings of the project the bond is invested in
4. How can Bond holders gain Trust in the Guarantor of the bond
5. What are the reassurances that the bond will work.

Bond Market Maturity
The Diaspora Bond requires Investment Banking or Capital Markets trading-know-how to advise the Diaspora investors regarding;
1. Various asset classes available in Uganda and why opt for a bond
2. Clarification why Bonds are being issued for the Diaspora
3. Understanding Fixed-income and related taxes
4. Understanding Capital Markets and how they can be accessed from abroad
5. Risk associated with bonds default or issuance failure
6. Who’s responsible for due diligence of the Diaspora Bond projects
7. Convertibility of the bonds

The Diaspora Bond Valuation
1. What are the Bond Interest rates compared to interest on bank account deposits
2. What is the impact of Libor (London Interbank Offer Rate) on Bond interest payments
3. What are the tax implications on interest on the bond, sale/transfer and or maturity
4. Will the Bond be Transferable and how many times
5. What is the Bond minimum purchase price
6. What is the Bond’s collateralization (are the project assets easily saleable (Uganda railway))
7. Will the Bond have a First-loss guarantee
8. Have Remittance fees for the Diaspora bond buyers been factored into the Bond’s pricing
9. Why not incentivize the bond through the dual citizenship fee of $400USD in exchange for the Diaspora Bond
10. Why not use the Diaspora bond or part of it for crowd financing
 Question for: Eric Vincent Guichard- we understand that you won the contract to set up the Diaspora bond in Kenya. How far have you got with the implementation of that initiative and what lessons can Uganda learn from your experience?

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UK Convention’s Flashback: Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga on micro investment for Diasporas @ UK Convention

To keep up the momentum from last year’s successful 1st Convention, this year we are
focusing on particular sectors, which include investing in the agriculture, real estate, fi –
nancial sector, discussing the imminent introduction of the Diaspora bond as well as
exploring all facets and benefi ts offered by the bond to Diasporans.

Opportunity Uganda is one of the main discussions, which looks at the overview of the
investment climate and general opportunities in Uganda. Due to the fact that this time we
have a lot of investors interested in the forum, we decided to broaden the scope and discuss issues beyond Diaspora investors.

This panel will include Baroness Chalker of Wallasey who has a lot of experience in
investing in Africa and sits on the Uganda Presidential Round Table.

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UK Convention’s Flashback: Subhash V Thakrar chairman London Chamber of Commerce …at the Convention

Giving tips on how to strengthen Uganda’s investment institituion. Uganda needs to sale the opportunities it has to the world which has lots of opportunties to chose from.

An introduction to the broad investment thesis and why now is the time for Diasporas and investors to be exploring opportunities in Uganda. Main focus on: Manufacturing, Real Estate, Housing, Tourism and Health.

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UK Convention’s Flashback: Exhibitors showcasing at 2nd Convention Ugandan Uk Convention 15th Sept2012

Why Exhibit at the Convention?
The Ugandan UK Convention is Europe’s Ugandan largest annual event whose vision is to harness the tremendous skills, expertise and knowledgebase of the Ugandan Diaspora with a view to promote socioeconomic and infrastructural development back in Uganda.

Our sponsors make a difference and create more awareness and understanding of your services and products among the Diaspora.This is the greatest opportunity to market yourselves to Ugandans in Europe.