Uganda opens consulate in Istanbul, Turkey

The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in Turkey has officially opened up an Honorary Consulate in Turkey's largest and most populous city of Istanbul.

The ceremony which took place on Tuesday was presided over by Stephen Mubiru who is  Uganda's Ambassador to Turkey,  Karem ALP the Turkish Ambassador to Uganda and attracted hundreds of Turkish businessmen,  representatives from the government of Turkey,  representatives from the Ffreign trade arm of the government of Turkey,  international sports personalities, Chamber of Commerce of Istanbul, and the mayor of Maltepe Municipality of  Istanbul among others.

Istanbul is one of the leading cities in the world and very strategic to international commerce as it is the meeting point of the European and Asian continent.

The Consulate will be headed by Honorary Consul Levent Davisoglu who is a renowned business man both in Uganda and Turkey.

Levent owns a chain of Lubricant factories in Turkey, Netherlands and Uganda.

The factory in Uganda is located in Namanve industrial park under the business name Potenza Lubricants.

During the launch, the Embassy carried out promotion of Uganda coffee, Ugandan pineapples and other products in line with economic and commercial diplomacy mandate.

Guests were also served to freshly roasted Uganda coffee specially imported from Uganda for the launching event.

They were also served to fresh Ugandan pineapples that was airlifted from Uganda to Turkey for promotion purposes.

Ambassador Stephen Mubiru and senior diplomats at the Uganda Embassy in Turkey including  Julius Mwijusya and  Joseph Barigye made a great impression about Uganda and wowed Turkish investors,  tourists as well as the  general Turkish public to consider Uganda as top destination for business and pleasure.

Istanbul is home to over 3,000 Ugandan who live and work in the city and its surrounding.

The opening of the Consulate will further promote Uganda to Turkey and consolidate the warm and friendly bilateral relations that exist between Uganda and Turkey.

Relations

Last year, Uganda opened a Consulate in the Turkish Mediterranean resort city of Antalya in the South of the country.

Antalya is a Turkish resort city with a yacht-filled Old Harbor and beaches flanked by large hotels.

Uganda and Turkey have enjoyed cordial relations for many years in military, defence, education and energy among others.

In 2010, Turkey opened a fully-fledged Mission in Kampala in 2010 and Uganda reciprocated by opening a mission in Ankara in 2011.