The Embassy of Uganda in Beijing, in partnership with the Qingdao Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has hosted the inaugural Uganda–Qingdao Agricultural Trade and Investment Conference in Qingdao City, Shandong Province.
Led by Amb. Oliver Wonekha, the historic forum brought together a high-level Ugandan delegation comprising officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), and private-sector representatives.
The team presented Uganda’s stable investment climate, competitive incentives, and young, skilled labour force, positioning the country as a strategic gateway to both the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Delivering the keynote address, Ambassador Wonekha reaffirmed Uganda’s reputation as one of Africa’s most stable and promising destinations for investment.
She emphasised that the country is ready for transformative partnerships anchored in industrialization, technology transfer, investment financing, and expanded trade collaboration.
She cited Uganda’s youthful workforce, sustained political stability, expanding manufacturing base, and vast agricultural potential as key strengths that make the country uniquely attractive to long-term investors.
Uganda, she said, offers exceptional opportunities in agricultural production, value addition, and manufacturing for both regional and continental markets.
Qingdao: A Natural Partner in Modern Agriculture
Qingdao is widely recognised for its advancements in modern agriculture, agritech, aquaculture, and agro-processing—areas that align closely with Uganda’s national development priorities.
Mr. Cui Zuo, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Qingdao Municipal Committee and President of the Qingdao General Chamber of Commerce, underscored the complementarity between Qingdao’s technological capabilities and Uganda’s agricultural potential.
He described Uganda as a natural partner for expanded agricultural cooperation and the co-creation of mutually beneficial industrial value chains.
UIA Encourages Deeper Partnership and Investment
Addressing Chinese investors, Mr. Fred Kakooza, Deputy Director General of the One-Stop Centre at the Uganda Investment Authority, reaffirmed Uganda’s readiness to host large-scale agricultural and manufacturing investments.
He highlighted Uganda’s generous tax incentives, strong legal protections for foreign investors, and abundant opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, and manufacturing.
Kakooza invited Chinese enterprises to establish processing and manufacturing hubs in Uganda as platforms for regional export.
Advancing Trade, Technology, and Industrial Cooperation
The Uganda–Qingdao Agricultural Trade and Investment Conference is designed to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation by promoting new trade links, attracting Chinese investment into Uganda’s agricultural and agro-industrial sectors, and creating avenues for technology transfer and capacity building.
It also seeks to foster long-term value-chain partnerships and position Uganda as a manufacturing and export hub serving Africa’s rapidly growing markets.