Kampala — French investors have injected about one billion US dollars in Uganda's economy to date.

Speaking recently, French Ambassador, Laurent Favier, said companies such as Total, Orange, AGS Worldwide Movers, Newerest, Alcatel, Ballore and others should be applauded for their great contribution towards the development of the Ugandan economy.

He speaking during the celebration of Bastille Day in Kampala during mid-July.

The French government has been supportive to Uganda in utilization of Information and Communication Technology for language teaching at Makerere University and Alliance Française. So far, France through its bilateral and multilateral interventions, especially in the health sector and humanitarian activities has also contributed to the acquisition of high medical facilities and this has positively influenced the health conditions of the Ugandan people.

Uganda has been able to meet some targets in the health sector as stipulated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on maternal heath and infant mortality rate.

Through these interventions, such as the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, development of quality education, agricultural sector development, and environmental conservation, the livelihood of the people of Uganda had improved.

Favier thanked the Uganda government for easing trade and assured the government of continued support towards the development of Uganda.

Currently, the presence of French companies in Uganda is on arise from 10 in 2011 to the present 30.France has the world's fifth largest economy by nominal figures and the ninth largest economy by PPP figures. It has the second largest economy in Europe (behind its main economic partner Germany) in nominal figures, based on the dynamic industrial structure of the French economy. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development is headquartered in Paris, France.