The National Entrepreneurs and Traders Association (NETA-Uganda) has unveiled plans to sponsor Ugandan traders and entrepreneurs on a fully funded benchmarking mission to China, aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties between the two countries.
NETA-Uganda, an umbrella association committed to uniting and empowering traders and entrepreneurs through capacity building, advocacy and strategic partnerships, will facilitate the trip in collaboration with partners in China.
NETA-Uganda President Thadeus Nagenda Musoke said the initiative seeks to foster cooperation with Chinese entrepreneurs and encourage investment in Uganda, particularly in local manufacturing.
“Our objective is to rapidly build strong relationships with Chinese investors to establish manufacturing ventures in Uganda instead of relying on imports. We aim to secure markets for Ugandan products in China as part of efforts to strengthen relationships between the two countries,” Musoke said.
He noted that China’s business environment is structured around high-context relationships, long-term partnerships and agility in a rapidly changing, digitally enabled market.
He said successful engagement requires understanding values such as hierarchy, loyalty and modesty, combined with rapid innovation, alignment with government policy and data-driven decision-making.
The Ugandan delegation is expected to participate in the 5th Shandong Import and Export Expo organised by the Linyi Wholesalers Federation, scheduled to take place from April 20 to April 22, 2026 at the Linyi International Convention and Exhibition Center in Shandong Province.
The expo will feature 11 indoor exhibition halls and a multifunctional area, with activities including guest country promotions, international sister city engagements, investment promotion forums and business networking sessions.
Organisers expect participation from traders dealing in robotics, industrial machinery, electronics, agrochemicals, automotive products, personal care items, consumer goods, hospitality solutions and domestic appliances.
According to NETA-Uganda, traders and entrepreneurs interested in joining the delegation are currently registering at the association’s offices in preparation for the mission.
The association says the benchmarking visit is part of broader efforts to position Ugandan entrepreneurs to tap into global value chains while attracting foreign direct investment into domestic production.
