By Diana N. Kintu
Uganda and the Chinese city of Qingdao have held their first Agricultural Trade and Investment Conference, marking a new chapter in economic cooperation between the two sides. The event took place on 10th December 2025 in Qingdao, Shandong Province, and was organised by the Embassy of Uganda in Beijing in partnership with key Qingdao municipal authorities. The conference was designed to showcase Uganda’s strengths, attract investment, and explore new opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, and manufacturing.
The conference was led by H.E. Ambassador Oliver Wonekha and brought together a strong delegation from Uganda, including officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, the Uganda Investment Authority, and members of the private sector. The team presented Uganda as a stable and promising destination for investment, highlighting the country’s strategic position within the East African Community and the wider African Continental Free Trade Area.
Ambassador Wonekha described Uganda as ready for meaningful partnerships centred on industrialisation, technology transfer and trade facilitation. She noted that Uganda’s youthful population, political stability and expanding manufacturing and agricultural capacity offer long-term potential for investors seeking to operate within regional and continental markets. She emphasised that Uganda provides strong opportunities in agricultural production, value addition and manufacturing, making it an ideal partner for Chinese companies exploring growth beyond Asia.
Qingdao’s leadership also welcomed the opportunity for deeper cooperation. The city is recognised for its advanced modern agriculture, aquaculture, agri-technology and agro-processing industries. Speaking on behalf of city authorities, Mr. Cui Zuo said Qingdao views Uganda as a natural partner in building sustainable agricultural value chains. He explained that China’s modern agricultural advancements align closely with Uganda’s development goals, making the partnership both timely and mutually beneficial.
The Uganda Investment Authority, represented by Mr. Fred Kakooza, encouraged Chinese investors to consider Uganda for large-scale agricultural and industrial projects. He reaffirmed that Uganda offers generous tax incentives, investor protection and broad opportunities across manufacturing, agro-processing and agriculture. He noted that Chinese companies can benefit from establishing processing and manufacturing hubs in Uganda to supply the East African region and the African continent.
The conference aims to strengthen bilateral trade, encourage investment and promote technology transfer between Uganda and Qingdao. It also seeks to support long-term partnerships that can contribute to sustainable agricultural development and position Uganda as a leading manufacturing and export centre in Africa.
For more information, the Embassy of Uganda in Beijing remains available to support interested investors through its Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Office.