The Embassy of Uganda in Beijing, working jointly with the Qingdao Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, on Wednesday hosted the inaugural Uganda–Qingdao Agricultural Trade and Investment Conference in Qingdao City, Shandong Province.
The forum was led by Ambassador Oliver Wonekha and 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 representatives from the private sector.
The delegation highlighted Uganda’s stable investment climate, competitive incentives, and youthful, skilled labour force, positioning the country as a strategic entry point to both the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In her keynote remarks, Ambassador Wonekha reiterated Uganda’s standing as one of Africa’s most stable and promising investment destinations.
She emphasised the country’s readiness for transformative partnerships focusing on industrialization, technology transfer, investment financing, and expanded trade cooperation.
Wonekha pointed to Uganda’s expanding manufacturing base, political stability, and vast agricultural potential as compelling advantages for investors targeting long-term opportunities in the region.
Qingdao officials expressed strong interest in deepening cooperation with Uganda, citing the city’s advanced capabilities in modern agriculture, agritech, aquaculture, and agro-processing.
Cui Zuo, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Qingdao Municipal Committee and President of the Qingdao General Chamber of Commerce, noted that Uganda and Qingdao possess complementary strengths that create a solid foundation for future collaboration.
He described Uganda as a natural partner for building mutually beneficial agricultural value chains.
Addressing investors, Fred Kakooza, Deputy Director General of the One-Stop Centre at the Uganda Investment Authority, reaffirmed Uganda’s readiness to host major agricultural and manufacturing ventures.
He highlighted the country’s generous investment incentives, legal protections for foreign investors, and growing opportunities across agriculture, agro-processing, and manufacturing.
Kakooza encouraged Chinese companies to establish processing and manufacturing hubs in Uganda to serve regional export markets.
The Uganda–Qingdao Agricultural Trade and Investment Conference aims to deepen economic cooperation by stimulating new trade linkages, attracting Chinese investment into Uganda’s agricultural and agro-industrial sectors, and promoting technology transfer and skills development.
The initiative also seeks to support long-term value-chain partnerships and strengthen Uganda’s position as a manufacturing and export hub within Africa’s rapidly expanding markets.
