Uganda and the Netherlands are exploring new opportunities to strengthen trade, investment, and agricultural development as business leaders, financiers, and policymakers deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.
dfcu Bank recently hosted members of the Netherlands–Uganda Trade and Investment Platform (NUTIP), alongside representatives from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda and Rabobank at its head office in Nakasero, Kampala.
Held under the theme “Building the Future of Trade, Together,” the engagement brought together stakeholders from government, finance, and the private sector to discuss practical strategies for expanding bilateral trade and investment.
Uganda and the Netherlands already share a strong commercial relationship. Uganda exports goods worth approximately $184 million (about Shs700 billion) annually to the Netherlands, while imports from the European nation total around $289 million (Shs1.1 trillion).
Beyond direct trade, the Netherlands serves as an important gateway to European markets, providing Ugandan exporters access to the wider European Union.
Agriculture remains central to Uganda’s economy, contributing about 24 percent of the country’s GDP, employing more than 65 percent of the population, and generating a significant share of export revenues.
Strengthening agricultural value chains, improving productivity, and expanding export capacity were key themes during the discussions.
Kate Kiiza, Executive Director and Chief Corporate and Institutional Banking Officer at dfcu Bank, highlighted the Netherlands’ global leadership in agricultural innovation and the potential lessons for Uganda.
“The Kingdom of the Netherlands has transformed agriculture into a high-value, innovation-driven sector. For a country of its size to be the world’s second-largest exporter of agricultural products demonstrates strong coordination, discipline, and long-term planning,” Kiiza said.
She noted that Uganda’s ambitions to modernise agricultural production and expand exports will require strategic partnerships that combine capital, technology, expertise, and market access.
Kiiza added that dfcu Bank is committed to supporting Dutch businesses entering the Ugandan market through dedicated relationship management, capital support, and market insight. According to the bank, such collaborations have already contributed to improved productivity and export readiness among local agribusinesses.
Expanding Financing Partnerships
Corrine Abbas, First Secretary for Economic Cooperation at the Dutch embassy, highlighted the role of development finance partnerships in supporting Uganda’s agricultural transformation.
She pointed to collaboration between dfcu Bank, Rabobank, and FMO – Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, which currently manages a portfolio exceeding $205 million (Shs780 billion) in Uganda.
The investments support financial institutions, renewable energy projects, and agricultural initiatives aimed at strengthening value chains and improving access to financing for farmers and agribusinesses.
Abbas emphasised that development finance institutions and commercial banks play a critical role in helping smallholder farmers transition into commercially viable enterprises.
The meeting concluded with discussions on financing structures, trade facilitation mechanisms, and investment opportunities across agriculture, manufacturing, and related value chains.
Kiiza observed that Uganda brings scale, entrepreneurial energy, and market potential, while the Netherlands contributes innovation, advanced systems, and international market access.
“With the right financial architecture and effective execution, this partnership can deliver outcomes that are both commercially viable and sustainable,” she said.
Through platforms such as NUTIP, dfcu Bank says it aims to strengthen its role in supporting enterprises operating along the Uganda–Netherlands trade corridor, translating dialogue into tangible investments, financing solutions, and long-term economic growth.