Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda Sam Kutesa and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Ivan Mrkic agreed in Belgrade today that the two countries should strengthen the decades long friendly relations and work on joint projects in the future, particularly in the economic sector.

"Today we have signed an agreement establishing the regular political consultations between the two Ministries, which is one of the bilateral agreements", said Mrkic at a joint press conference with Kutesa.

Serbian Foreign Minister pointed out that during the talks with Kutesa it was agreed to start, without delay, the drafting of an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the protection and promotion of investments, which would enhance economic cooperation.

"Uganda is an old friend of Serbia", said Mrkic, adding that Serbia is on the road to full membership of the EU, but that it does not forget its old friends, especially in Africa, where we forged friendships many decades ago.

"We want to maintain this relationship, strengthen it, and have joint projects in the future, and above all we want to develop economic cooperation", stressed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, expressing the hope that Serbian companies would be able to participate again in business projects in African countries, especially countries as friendly as Uganda.

Kutesa would have a series of meetings in Belgrade, in particular with people involved in the economy, said Mrkic and expressed hope that this visit would yield concrete results in terms of economic activities planned by Serbia and Uganda.

Thanking Uganda for its principled support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia, Mrkic emphasized that Uganda did not intend to change its position on Kosovo and Metohija.

According to Mrkic, the visits of the highest representatives of the Serbian Government to Africa and Uganda are due to take place in the future.

Kutesa said that the agreement signed today would encourage entrepreneurs to cooperate among themselves, with investments being safe.

Recalling that Serbia and Uganda fully cooperate internationally in many areas, he assessed that the two countries should continue to strengthen their relations.
"There are huge opportunities for investment in trade, tourism and many other sectors", said Kutesa, adding that some Serbian companies were already doing business in Uganda, but that the scope of their joint ventures should be increased.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda, who arrived in Belgrade yesterday for a four-day visit to Serbia, met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic earlier today.

Kutesa will later meet with Prime Minister Ivica Dacic.

As announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Kutesa would visit several Serbian export companies.

President Nikolic met with the highest officials of Uganda on the margins of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, in May.
The company "Energoprojekt – Road Building" signed, last year in Uganda, a contract worth US$ 7.3 million, to rebuild six traffic arteries in Kampala, and in 2010 it signed a contract to build sections of the paved road in the country, worth US$ 46.5 million.

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