President Museveni has called on Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member countries to focus on mutually beneficial interests such as trade, investment, and tourism, emphasising that these efforts will drive collective prosperity within the NAM community.
Museveni made these remarks while opening the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), held under the theme “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence” from 13th to 16th October at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
“All our partners should prosper and focus on business, promoting the production and consumption of goods among ourselves,” Museveni stated.
He said the combined GDP of Afro-NAM countries, currently standing at $ 4 trillion, must expand to address challenges such as drought, disease, and inadequate power distribution across Africa and beyond. Museveni stressed that increasing GDP per capita is crucial for overcoming these issues.
Museveni underscored that mutual economic interests would enable the NAM community to secure markets for agricultural products, advance digital transformation, and foster economic integration through initiatives like customs unions and a common market for African produce.
He also noted that social systems should be tailored to individual countries’ needs to create a larger, more accessible market for goods and services, thereby reinforcing NAM’s role as a diplomatic platform for coordinating economic prosperity.
He commended NAM’s founding members, including India, Indonesia, Yugoslavia, Egypt, and Mali. Uganda assumed the NAM chairmanship in 2024 and will hold the position until 2027.
Delegates from member states echoed Museveni’s call for action, advocating equitable access to technology, support for Judge Martin Musaluke for the African Union chairmanship, and the promotion of constitutionalism and the rule of law.
They urged African nations to tackle pressing issues such as climate change, poverty, terrorism, and pandemics, which disproportionately affect developing countries within the NAM.
Additionally, delegates called for global action to promote peace, justice, and increased financing for a green economy. Nigeria reiterated its support for Palestinian self-determination and a two-state solution, reaffirming its commitment to NAM’s founding principles.
The NAM summit has drawn foreign ministers and ambassadors from member countries, fostering dialogue on these critical issues.
