Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in Beijing Strengthens Economic Ties at Major Sichuan Trade Forum
The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in the People’s Republic of China participated in the 29th China (Sichuan) New Year Shopping Festival, a flagship trade and cultural event held at the Chengdu Century City New International Convention and Exhibition Center, bringing together leading enterprises, suppliers, and consumers from across China.
The Embassy delegation was led by Amb. Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Muheesi Geoffrey, Deputy Head of Mission. Through its exhibition and active engagement in the festival’s programming, the Embassy showcased Uganda as a competitive and attractive destination for tourism, trade, and investment, with a special focus on Uganda’s world-renowned, high-quality specialty coffee and agribusiness potential. The exhibition served as a dynamic platform to enhance visibility of Ugandan products and investment opportunities among Chinese businesses and consumers.
A significant milestone was achieved during the event following constructive discussions between the Embassy of Uganda and the Sichuan Suppliers Association. In a ceremony marking a concrete step forward in bilateral economic relations, both parties formally agreed to establish a structured framework for future economic and trade cooperation.
The cooperation framework aims to promote sustained and results-oriented partnership through key mechanisms, including the regular exchange of market intelligence, facilitation of targeted business-to-business matchmaking, and support for the implementation of joint commercial and investment projects. A standing communication mechanism will ensure continuity and practical follow-up.
Speaking at the event, Amb. Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Muheesi Geoffrey emphasized Uganda’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Chinese partners under FOCAC:
“This cooperation framework reflects Uganda’s strong commitment to building mutually beneficial partnerships with Chinese enterprises. Under the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation, Uganda offers a stable, investor-friendly environment with vast opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, tourism, and value-added exports. We welcome Sichuan businesses to partner with us in turning these opportunities into shared prosperity.”
A representative of the Sichuan Suppliers Association welcomed the agreement and underscored the Association’s interest in expanding engagement with Uganda:
“Uganda presents strong potential as a trade and investment partner, particularly in agriculture, specialty products, and emerging manufacturing. This cooperation framework provides a practical platform for Sichuan enterprises to better understand the Ugandan market and to pursue long-term, mutually beneficial collaboration.”
The signing of the cooperation framework represents a tangible outcome of Uganda’s proactive economic diplomacy and aligns with the priorities of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), particularly in advancing trade facilitation, industrial cooperation, and private-sector-led development.
The Embassy is confident that this structured collaboration with the Sichuan Suppliers Association will unlock new avenues for trade expansion, investment flows, technology transfer, and people-to-people exchange, further strengthening the enduring friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Uganda and China.
