HÀ NỘI — The Uganda High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, in collaboration with Ugandan government agencies and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), will hold a major business forum in Hà Nội next week as part of efforts to expand bilateral trade and investment and position Uganda as a gateway for Vietnamese businesses to the African market.

The main event themed 'Pearl of Africa – Uganda Business Forum & Expo Vietnam Chapter' will take place on August 12 at the JW Marriott Hanoi.

Organisers said the initiative aims to expand export markets for Ugandan products, attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and support the country's ambition of increasing its gross domestic product to US$500 billion by 2040.

It also seeks to deepen bilateral economic cooperation and encourage more Vietnamese businesses to use Uganda as a base for accessing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a market of around 1.4 billion consumers.

Uganda and Việt Nam established diplomatic relations in 1973, and bilateral ties gained fresh momentum following Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's State visit to Việt Nam in 2022. While political relations remain strong, organisers said economic cooperation has yet to match its potential.

Bilateral trade has grown rapidly in recent years, rising from $22 million in 2024 to about $95.5 million in 2025.

Uganda exported coffee, cotton and meat worth nearly $50 million to Việt Nam last year, while importing around $45.6 million worth of goods, including animal feed, clinker, garments, footwear, batteries and wood veneer.

Vietnamese investment commitments in Uganda currently total around $40 million, mainly in mining and construction projects.

Organisers said the forum will showcase investment opportunities across agro-processing, manufacturing, information and communications technology, business process outsourcing, tourism, mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and renewable energy.

The programme will include business-to-business and government-to-business meetings, investment exhibitions, networking sessions and policy discussions, including talks on a bilateral investment treaty and a double taxation avoidance agreement.

Ahead of the forum, Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries will visit Việt Nam to study the country's coffee industry. The two sides are expected to sign a cooperation agreement on coffee value chain development.

More than 300 delegates are expected to attend, including government officials, business leaders, investors, financial institutions and development partners from both countries.

Uganda's Ambassador to Việt Nam Betty Bigombe said the forum would help translate the two countries' longstanding friendship into practical business partnerships.

She said Uganda's abundant resources, competitive labour costs and access to African markets, combined with Việt Nam's industrial expertise, created strong opportunities for mutually beneficial investment and trade cooperation. — BIZHUB/VNS