The 2019 China Industrial Capacity Cooperation Exposition (China-Uganda Expo) will be held at UMA Show Grounds, Kampala from July 23- 26, with thousands Ugandan businessmen and others from the region expected to attend the event that will showcase exhibitor profiles in infrastructure construction, machinery and equipment, Energy and Environment, Logistics, Minerals and metal, agro and agro-processing, vocational education, ICT, tourism and health industry and wholesale and retail.
The expo the first to be held in Uganda, is part of the China Industry Capacity Cooperation Exposition (China-Africa Expo), one of the most famous fairs to connect China and Eastern Africa countries concerning construction, agricultural, machinery, tourist among other sectors.
The expo is organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in collaboration with Uganda Manufacturers Association, Uganda Investment Authority, China-Africa Development Fund and Uganda National Chmaber of Commerce and Industry, according to Lydia Sun, Project Team Manager, CIEC Exhibition Co., Ltd., at a press conference on Wednesday in Kampala.
The Expo is the third in a series of China-Africa expositions, the first two having been held in Kenya and Ethiopia in November and December 2018 respectively.
“Altogether 43 enterprises from 12 provinces and cities of China will take part in the expo to showcase high-quality products and advanced technology in railway and road construction, infrastructure, telecommunications, machinery, manufacturing and farm produce processing,” Sun said, adding that they will be seeking to explore investment opportunities in Uganda in areas such as engineering machinery, energy equipment, agricultural processing products and equipment and equipment among others.
The Expo is a platform for governments, businesses and trade circles between China and Uganda to work hand in hand, promote trade and investment to achieve mutual benefits,” said Sun.
She added that the forum provides opportunity to showcase many products and economic development concepts including symposia and other concurrent events designed to enhance networking and information exchange between Chinese and Ugandan enterprises as well as promoting industrial capacity cooperation on projects between the two countries.
She said that since October 18, 1962, when the diplomatic relations between China and Uganda were established, the two sides have made great progress and development. “At present, bilateral economic and trade relations are not limited to simple trade. Many Chinese companies have already invested in Uganda,” she said adding that these have contributed to Uganda’s economic and social development.
“While Uganda has rich natural and human resources and stands at the starting period of industrialization, China has the technology, equipment, talent and funds that can help the country realize sustainable development where jobs are created,” said Mubaraka K. Nkutu, UMA’s director of membership services, who added that China is already developing industrial parks in Mbale and Kapeeka.
“We believe the expo will add impetus to the ongoing China-Uganda collaboration in trade, investments, and also cooperation in industrialization,” said Stephen Kabagambe of Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, adding that the Expo is win-win cooperation between China and Uganda. He said China is one of the biggest trading partners of Uganda.
UIA’s Martin Muhangi said Uganda has many investment opportunities and that coupled with a good investment climate that has made Uganda an investment destination, more Chineses companies should come to invest in the country that now has a one-stop- centre to serve investors.
“Uganda is a preferred investment destination in Africa,” he said adding that the country is part of the EAC AND COMESA blocs which have a market of over 170 million people and 560 people respectively,” Muhangi said.
Zhao Xiufen, Economic and Commercial Counsellor Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Uganda, emphasised that the Expo is part of the China-Africa Expositions which are part of the initiatives that President Xi Jinping announced during the Bejing Summit in September 2018 on China-Africa Cooperation.
Meanwhile, Ju Weipeng, Acting Country Manager of China Communications Construction Company Limited (Uganda), said that 350 Chinese companies have already set base in Uganda, providing jobs to Uganda and contributing to Uganda’s development.
