Museveni calls for removal of trade barriers in developing landlocked countries

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President Yoweri Museveni has called on landlocked developing countries to ensure that all non-tariff barriers are stopped if poor countries are to unlock their full development potential.

“As long as the market remains fragmented due to tariff and non-tariff barriers; insecurity; poor Infrastructure and connectivity: and lack of access to the sea by some of the countries, Africa's potential cannot be fully exploited,” stated Museveni during the ongoing Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) hosted in Awaza, Turkmenistan.

The conference, themed "Driving Progress through Partnerships," which opened on August 5, aims to address the challenges faced by LLDCs and accelerate their sustainable development.

Prime Minister Nabbanja on arrival in Turkmenistan on Sunday August 4. (Courtesy)

Museveni, in a speech delivered by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, explained that Modern economies are built on the production of goods and services.

“The more services and goods you produce, especially industrial goods, agricultural products, to mention but a few, the wealthier a nation becomes. But when you produce goods and services, the question is, who buys what you produce? That is why the issue of producers and consumers is at the centre of modern economies,” explained Museveni.

The President said that Africa's huge market of now 1.5 billion people, presents us with an opportunity for triggering the development and socio-economic transformation of our countries.

“This is why Uganda welcomes the concrete actions in the five priority areas for action of the Awaza Programme; Structural transformation, science, technology and innovation; trade facilitation and regional integration: transit, transport and connectivity; enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening re resilience, reducing vulnerability to climate change and disasters as means of implementation,” he noted, according to a media release from OPM's media crew.

On climate change, Museveni reported that Uganda is advancing climate resilience through green industrial policies and adaptive infrastructure.

"We call for the timely implementation of the New Collective quantified Goal (NCQG) decision adopted at COP 29 at Baku, Azerbaijan, setting a goal with developed countries taking the lead, of at least $300 billion per year by 2035 for developing country parties for climate action.

I wish to state that Landlocked Developing Countries require a revitalised global partnership. Uganda is committed to the implementation of the Awaza Programme of Action.

Let this be the moment when "landlocked" no longer means “locked out," but instead signals our renewed determination to be "linked in it, connected, competitive and committed to sustainable development,” explained Museveni.

Uganda, like other landlocked countries, continues to face the challenge of a lack of direct access to the sea, hence negatively impacts our socio-economic transformation agenda.

“We believe that infrastructure development, both physical and soft, is fundamental in addressing this unique challenge faced by LLDCs. Uganda has set a bold target to increase the size of our economy by 2040 to $500 billion, up from $50 billion in the financial year 2023/2024,” he added.

The President further called on developed countries to support landlocked developing countries with concessional loans to allow them to finance their infrastructure development programmes.

At the conference, which focuses on enhancing cooperation and partnerships among landlocked developing countries, delegates are expected to deliberate on how 32 landlocked developing countries can unlock their full potential in order to obtain socio-economic transformation.

The president of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, called on LLDCs to further strengthen their Cooperation through developing joint infrastructural projects, digital connectivity, and adapting climate resilience mechanisms as a priority.

Premier Robinah Nabbanja talking to the United Nations General Secretary, Antonio António Guterres, after the meeting in Awaza City. (Courtesy)

During the Opening ceremony, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterez highlighted the challenges Landlocked countries are facing, making it difficult for them to realise their development needs.

The conference has attracted heads of state, vice presidents and prime ministers and ministers representing their countries.