Guests cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony of the first China-Uganda Industrial Capacity Cooperation Exposition in Kampala, capital of Uganda, July 23, 2019. The first China-Uganda Industrial Capacity Cooperation Exposition on Tuesday opened in Uganda's capital Kampala with calls to forge partnerships. (Xinhua/Hajarah Nalwadda)
KAMPALA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Uganda is using platforms availed by expositions in China and Uganda to attract investors and also make sales.
The first China-Uganda Industrial Capacity Cooperation Exposition on Tuesday opened in Uganda's capital Kampala with calls to forge partnerships.
Forty-three enterprises from 12 Provinces in China are participating in the expo seeking to explore investment opportunities in the east African country.
Forty-three enterprises from 122 provinces and cities in China are expected to showcase their products and also seek to explore investment opportunities in Uganda.
The exhibitors come from varied sectors which include infrastructure construction, machinery and equipment, minerals and metals, tourism and health.
Earlier, the first China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo was held in June in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province. Uganda was chosen by China as the Guest Country of Honor. President Yoweri Museveni led a delegation of 125 people including senior government officials and exhibitors who pitched to potential Chinese investors.
At a review meeting held at the Economic and Commercial Counsellor's office of the Chinese embassy, deals worth 48 million U.S. dollars were reached.
Elly Twineyo, executive director of Uganda Export Promotion Board, a state agency charged with export promotion told Xinhua in an interview that before the Changsha expo, the Ugandan delegation was at the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition where several deals were concluded.
"We are in Beijing and we are getting orders, we have got orders for flowers, fish, greens and cassava," Twineyo said.
"We also went to Changsha, we got big orders. We have also got partners who are willing to come and invest," he added.
Artists perform at the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition in Yanqing District of Beijing, capital of China, June 22, 2019. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
Twineyo said they are now targeting the second China International Import Exhibition that will be held in Shanghai in November to close more deals and also attract investors.
Expos in China are critical for countries like Uganda which have limited resources to go to different provinces, searching for buyers and potential investors.
"These events in China like expos, trade fairs are very important for Uganda. When we go to these events, you find people in one location," Twineyo said.
Martin Muhangi, an official at Uganda Investment Authority, a state agency charged with promotion of investment, said Uganda is going to continue using the expos as an opportunity to showcase Uganda as a preferred investment destination.
Muhangi said the Chinese investors can use Uganda as a launch pad to the East African market.
Muhangi added that Chinese investors can further use Uganda to access the entire African market, especially after the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.