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President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, gave this exclusive interview to United World at his country home in Rwakitura, in which he shared his views about the profound transformation that Uganda has undergone since the arrival of democracy in 1986, the key sectors for socioeconomic development, as well as the main economic challenges that the country is facing. President Museveni, who will attend the first African Leaders Summit in Washington and the Global African Investment Summit in London over the coming months, also spoke about the attractiveness of Uganda for European and American investors.

Uganda has been making high-quality cotton for over 100 years, but still exports the majority of it as lint. The next step for Uganda’s cotton industry is value addition – by establishing a textiles industry to compete with the textiles centres of Asia, such as China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. This is the dream of many, including Jolly K. Sabune, Managing Director of the Cotton Development Organization (CDO). For this dream to become a reality, Uganda needs foreign investors to come and take advantage of the untapped opportunities in its white gold.

United World’s team sat with Mr. Tugume to discuss the latest trends in Uganda’s mining sector and the role it will play in the future of the country. With the vision of an executive trained internationally he shared with UW his views regarding East African Gold and its current projects.

As a landlocked country, the development of roads is crucial for Uganda’s continued economic development. Local contractor BCR has constructed more than 4,000km of road in the East African state. The company has also expanded into the areas of building construction and tile making. Baguma Crescent Rusoke, Managing Director of BCR says his company is open to partnerships, adding that BCR has good track record and the experience: “Once we are given the jobs, there is no doubt that we can do anything.”

Situated on the southeastern seaboard of the Sultanate of Oman, overlooking the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean beyond, Port of Duqm is fast becoming an important reality of the Middle East region’s rapidly transforming maritime landscape. CEO of the Port Duqm Company Mr. Rien Van de Ven talks to United World about Oman’s new center of trade and industry.

Oman’s Minister of Transport and Communications Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Salem Al-Futaisi talks to United World about how the country is leveraging its geostrategic position by building 6 new ports, as well as roads, railways, airports and industrial free zones in order to create fully integrated transport and a strong logistic and supply chain system.

With 13 domestic airports as well as an international airport – including another international airport on the way to serve the national oil refinery – the Civil Aviation Authority in Uganda is developing air transport infrastructure towards making the country the gateway to the East African Community. Managing Director of the CAA, Mr. Wenceslaus Rama Makuza, talks to United World.

Since establishing in the early 1970’s, Petronas – Malaysia’s state owned oil and gas company - has been building the future of energy by applying expertise and advanced technologies to manage and add value to the nation’s oil and gas resources while meeting increasing energy demands. As the demand for energy solutions continues to increase, Tan Sri Dato’ Shamsul Azhar Abbas – the group CEO and President - says that the company is focused on applying research and innovation to deliver more imaginative and efficient energy products that Malaysia, the region, and indeed the whole world needs.

As the birthplace of Robusta coffee, coffee production is incredibly important to the Ugandan economy, and inextricably linked to its culture. The Uganda Coffee Development Authority is the body in charge of promoting and improving the coffee industry, and its Managing Director Mr. Henry Ngabirano talks to United World about the challenges of doing so.

With environmental and societal values at its core, Valero Builders is looking to become one of the 3 most important construction companies in Guayaquil in the next few years. Architect and Executive President of Valero, Mr Luis Valero Brando, talks to Ibatin about the building firm’s quest.